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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH, 



PERSONAL AND DESCRIPTIVE, 



SYLVANUS B. PHINNEY, 



OF BARNSTABLE, MASS., 



ON HIS EIGHTIETH ANNIVERSARY. 



October 27, 1888. 



REPRINT FROM THE OLD COLONY RECORDS BY 

RELATIVES AND FRIENDS. 



BOSTON: 

RAND AVERY COMPANY, PRINTERS. 

1888. 



CO:N'TE]SrTS. 



Introductory Letter from Rev. E. E. Hale 5 

Preface 9 

Biographical Sketch 13 

Introductory Remarks 17 

Timothy Phinney 18 

An Interesting Relic 20 

Old Middlesex and the Old Colony 22 

Personal Sketches 25 

Isaiah L. Green 28 

Official Letter to Major-Gen. Dearborn .... 29 

An Old Document 31 

Letter of John Adams 34 

Valuable History 35 

Letter of Amos Otis 36 

Important Letter relating to the Fisheries 39 

Speech of Major Phinney at Hyannis, May, 1885 ... 41 

President Grant's Visit to Barnstable in 187G .... 47 

Historical Letter 49 

Speech of Major Phinnt;y at Semi-Centennial of Faneuil- 

Hall Market, 1876 55 

The First Cunard Steamer 58 

Monttment at Provincetoavn 61 

The First Landing of the Pilgrims 63 

Monument to the Pilorims 63 

Cape Cod : Response of Major Phintiey 72 

Kew-England Excursionists to California in 1880 . . 74 

A Pleasant Visit 84 

Agricultural : Letter from Major Phinney 85 

Unitarian Conference : Address of Major Phinney . . 89 

Valedictory 93 




'-~>^ 






J^^\,.y^U::^^'¥::-. 



i:^TEODUCTORT LETTER. 



RoxBURY, Sept. 26, 18S8, 

My DEAR Major Phinney, — I am very glad to hear tliat, 
while you are strong and well, something is to be published 
which we can call your "memoirs," or your "contributions 
to the history of our time." Certainly your outlook upon 
that history has been a very curious one ; and when the ac- 
count of the nineteenth century in New England is made up, 
just what will be needed are such notes as you are able to 
give, with regard to the marvellous changes which have passed 
over New England since the year in which you were born. 

I am glad to be permitted to say, in some part of the book, 
that some of my earliest happy associations are connected 
with you. I can remember, — what perhaps you do not re- 
member, — what wonder and pleasure I had in the walks in 
Boston, between the head of School Street and the corner of 
State and Congress Street, when my little hand reached up 
to take your hand, and when I should not have been permit- 
ted to stray into the streets alone. Indeed, my first associa- 
tion with a world larger than the nursery is connected with 
" Sylvanus," as we used to call you in those days ; and from 
that hour to this, the name "Sylvanus," and, strange to say, 
the name "Sylvester," has always been to me a pleasant name. 
I owe it to you, that I have always tried to make out the 
popes of the name of Sylvester a better series of popes than 
the general series which surrounded them. If any of them 
take any comfort from my good opinion, they owe it to you. 

I was glad to hear you say that your recollections of the 
old "Advertiser" office were pleasant. My father was a man 



b INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 

of his time ; indeed, in many respects lie led the men of his 
time, when they did not kno\y that he was leading them. But 
he had an attachment to the best of the old systems. In par- 
ticular, he always believed in the system of apprenticeship. 
I have heard him say a hundred times that he wanted to 
have two or three apprentices in his office. " They are always 
loyal," he said ; and that is true. The apprentices in his 
employ have in many instances, notably in j'our own, grown 
up to be leaders of the societj- in which they lived, honorable 
and respected men. He always took a personal interest in 
their fortunes, and in their after-life would speak proudly of 
their having begun their training for life in his office. 

It would be to go back a few years before you were in the 
office, to tell the story which my mother was fond of telling, 
of the work in which the " Advertiser's " report of the Con- 
stitutional Convention of 1820 was finished. Mr. Webster, 
Judge Story, ]Mr. Pickering, and other older men, leaders of 
the convention, used to meet every evening, after the day's 
work, in my mother's little parlor, in the house on Tremont 
Street, where the new extension of the Parker House now 
stands. My father was a member of the convention, and 
practically was its reporter. They would write out and re- 
vise their speeches there, and the apprentices from the office 
would be in waiting to receive the slips of copy in the even- 
ing. I have heard her say that she had rocked the cradle 
with the baby in it, while she wrote from the dictation of 
one or other of the gentlemen whom I have named. The 
boys waiting for copy would sit at one side, with some book 
which she had given them for their entertainment. When 
the whole was over, and the convention record was printed 
as a volume, she made a plum-cake for the office, and frosted 
it, and dressed it with the old-fashioned cockle-shells which 
you will remember as favorites among the " sugar-plums " of 
that day. But she took out the printed mottoes which came 
from the confectioners, and substituted passages from the 
speeches of the leaders of the convention. This cake was 
sent down to the office, to make a pleasant wind-up for the 



INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 7 

tediousness of the long " waits " as the daily reports went 
into type. 

In after-days, our home associations with Barnstable were 
all connected with yourself. I dure say you liave forgotten, 
but I have not, that you and Mrs. Phinney interested your- 
selves in the ladies' movement for the completion of Bunker 
Hill Monument, which began, I think, about the, year 1835. 
But indeed, my dear Major Phinney, you know perfectly 
well, though you will be too modest to say so, that you have 
interested yourself in every good thing which has been done 
in the Old Colony from the time when the English took you 
as a prisoner down to this present day. 

Believe me 

Very truly and affectionately yours, 

EDWARD E. HALE. 



PEEFAOE. 



According to an old legend, there was said to be a 
fountain somewhere in the New World, that would impart 
perpetual youth to all who should drink of its waters. An 
old Spaniard set off in search of the same. It was supposed 
to exist in one of the Bahama Islands. In the search he 
accidentally discovered the coast of Florida, which received 
its name from the abundance of flowers with which its forests 
were adorned. There is a great art in knowing how to make 
our life, as it advances, more joyous and serene. The old 
Norse vigor of our ancestors came largely in this way. Age 
is the period for rest, retrospection. In the library of 
Harvard College, with its more than three hundred thousand 
volumes, our attention has been repeatedly called to the fact 
of the large number of biographies and autobiographies of 
distinguished individuals. None are read with greater avid- 
ity than those of self-made men, who have risen to greatness 
without even knowing or caring for greatness, — men who 
have dared to speak and act according to their*-honest con- 
victions, without the fear or favor of others. While, in many 
cases, histories and biographies, written many years after the 
events have taken place, are full of errors and mis-statements, 
and therefore pushed aside, what has taken place and been 
recorded under one's own eye is eagerly sought after. 

During the long and eventful life of our distinguished 
fellow-citizen, there are so many things of the greatest interest 
to the public, that it is difficult to know where to begin or to 
leave off. 

As a journalist, he was deservedly among the first. As a 
politician, he has done more to shape the opinions of this 



10 PREFACE. 

section of the State than perhaps any other resident on the 
Cape for the hxst half-century ; and he has held positions of 
the highest trust and influence. He has been president and 
director of a score of different organizations, such as banks 
and railroads, and represented the people in the Constitu- 
tional Convention in 1853 ; has been on committees of high 
importance at Washington, and had immediate interviews 
with Presidents and highest officials of the land. 

During the recent war of the Rebellion he was always dis- 
tinctly^ heard on the side of Union, loyalty, and humanity. 
His residence, grounds, and surroundings are in perfect taste 
and accord with the uniform cheer and hospitality which 
reigns within his delightful home. In the church he has 
been a pillar of strength, — giving liberally, not only of his 
time and sympathy, but of his money. He has been the 
prime mover in organizing the Cape Cod Conference of Uni- 
tarian and other Liberal Christian churches in this section of 
the Old Colony, and been continued as its president for the 
past twenty years. 

A self-made man, never dismaj^ed by obstacles, and he has 
never been known to show the " white feather." As a critic 
his pen has af times been cutting, no doubt, but he has met 
the sharpest darts of his foes with the utmost equanimity and 
charity. What might seem fulsome, in this connection, to 
say of many another, in Ids case is simply justly his due. 
What all men say of him, irrespective of party or social 
position, must be true. "Vox populi, vox Dei." 

In these days of transition and party revolution, it is 
refreshing to know, here and there, of a man who has stood 
firm to the associations and established rules of his early 
manhood; modifying and changing ever so much, it may 
be, his methods, yet progressing ever in the line of his 
deepest convictions and honest opinions from the wevj first. 
His colors once nailed to the mast-head, you always know 
where to find such a man. You may call him a Democrat of 
the old school, but you will find him a pioneer and honored 
leader with the new. None more zealous, in whatever party 



PREFACE. 11 

organization, in furthering the cause of human rights and 
liberties. 

In closing this brief and imperfect sketch, let me add sim- 
ply Jean Paul's Richter's benediction: "May your life glide 
serenely ; but if storms must convulse, or clouds darken, may 
there be no more clouds than may glitter in the sunlight, 
and no storms which the rainbow may not encircle ; and may 
the Veiled One of heaven watch over your steps, and bring 
lis to meet where clouds shall cease to darken, and storms to 

convulse." 

A. S. NICKERSON. 



BIOGRAPHICAL 
SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. PHINNEY. 



Major Sylvanus Bourne Phinney was born in Barn- 
stable, Oct. 27, 1808, in the building now occupied by the 
Sturgis Library. He is a Democrat, his first vote having 
been cast for Andrew Jackson ; seventeen years president 
and twenty-five years a director of the Hyannis National and 
Yarmouth Banks ; for many years secretary of the Barnstable 
Savings Institution, in the days of its prosperity, and in 1870 
chosen president of the Hyannis Savings Bank ; was com- 
missioned by Gov. Levi Lincoln as major of the First Regi- 
ment Massachusetts Militia, at the early age of twenty-two 
years, and served in the regimental reviews at Sandwich 
and Falmouth in 1832 and 1833; represented the town of 
Chatham in the Constitutional Convention of 1853 ; was the 
Democratic candidate for Congress, and councillor of the 
First District, and represented the First District in the Demo- 
cratic National Conventions of 1814, 1853, and 1857, and, 
upon a vacancy existing, received a majority of the votes of 
the State Senate for councillor. The official returns of votes 
for councillor in 1882 gave S. B. Phinney 9,922, being the 
largest Democratic vote ever before cast in the First District. 
He was appointed collector of the District of Barnstable by 
President Polk, and held that office under the administra- 
tions of Presidents Polk, Pierce, Buchanan, and Johnson. 
During that time he disbursed for the Government hundreds 
of thousands of dollars to the fishermen of Cape Cod, under 
the Cod Fishing Bounty Act of 1819 ; was instrumental in 
procuring from Congress an appropriation of $30,000 for 



14 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 

building the Custom House and Post Office at Barnstable ; 
and raised by subscription a sufficient amount of money for 
purchasing the grounds and building the Agricultural Hall 
(Hon. William Sturgis sending him a check for $1,000 to aid 
him in the work) ; was for some years president of the Barn- 
stable County Agricultural Society, and represented the 
society twelve years at the State Board of Agriculture- 
Daring the war of the Rebellion he was appointed by Gov. 
John A. Andrew a member of the " Committee of One Hun- 
dred," and presented the Sandwich Guards, Company D, Third 
Regiment Massachusetts Battalion, with a costly flag, upon 
which was inscribed, " Our flag floats to-day not for party, 
but for country." Hon. William H. Osborne, in his History 
of the Twenty-ninth Regiment, speaks of his unwavering 
fidelity to the Union, and his determination to sustain the 
National Administration in its efforts to crush out treason 
and rebellion; and that the principal editorial column of 
his paper was headed by these familiar lines : — 

" And this be our motto, ' In God is our trust.' 
And the Star-spangled Banner in triumph shall wave 
O'er the laud of the free and the home of the brave." 

On visiting that regiment at Fortress Monroe, in March, 
1862, JNIajor Phinney was present at the memorable battle, 
which occurred on the sabbath, between the ironclads "Moni- 
tor " and " Merrimac." 

When the Sandwich company was fully armed and 
equipped for service, it was joined by Major Phinney ; and 
he was on the march with Major Chipman, with full ranks, 
through the streets of Boston, when the company embarked 
in the steamer for Fortress Monroe. 

Before the close of the war with Great Britain, in 1814, 
Major Phinney was a passenger, with his father, on board a 
packet sloop commanded by Capt. Howes, between Barn- 
stable and Boston, and taken a prisoner when the packet 
was fired into by the British frigate "Nymph," in Massa- 
chusetts Bay, and afterwards boarded and burned with her 
cargo. He has a cannon-ball fired by a British frigate during 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. PTIINNEY. 15 

the war, wliicli was lodged upon the Bacon farm, near his 
own home. 

Major Phinney received his education in our common 
schools, and at an early age served an apprenticeship as a 
printer in the oClice of the Hon. Nathan Hale, of the Boston 
" Daily Advertiser." He was present at the laying of the 
corner-stone of the Bunker-hill Monument at the time of 
the visit of Gen. Lafayette to Boston. 

The "Barnstable Patriot" was founded by ]Major Phinney, 
the first number of which was published June 26, 1830. 
He continued as its editor and proprietor for nearly forty 
years. In 1832 he married Eliza Cordelia Hildreth, the 
daughter of Col. Jonathan Hildreth of Concord, Mass., by 
whom he has living three sons married, and one daughter. 
After his wife's death in July, 1865, he married in October, 
1866, Lucia Green, the youngest daughter of Hon. Isaiah L. 
Green of Barnstable, who represented the Barnstable Dis- 
trict in Congress and voted for the war of 1812. 

Major Phinney is president of the Cape Cod (Unitarian) 
Conference, a position he has held for nearly twenty years, 
and has held for long 3^ears the office of vice-president of the 
New-England Agricultural Society. He was an early pioneer 
in the culture of the cranberry in Barnstable ; and has a 
ten-acre lot of pine-trees planted from the seed thirty-five 
years ago, of large and heavy growth. 

Major Phinney's apprenticeship with Nathan Hale having 
expired, he took charge of the " Barnstable Journal," the 
first number of which was published by N. S. Simpkins, Oct. 
10, 1828. He continued in his employ until he established 
the " Barnstable Patriot " in June, 1830. As foreman in the 
" Journal " office during that time, he printed from stereo- 
type plates two large editions of the English Reader. He is 
a member of Fraternal Lodge of Masons, and of the Boston 
Commandery Knights Templars.^ He was elected in 1875 a 
trustee of Humboldt (Iowa) College, and in 1883 appointed 
by Gov. Benjamin F. Butler to fill a vacancy on the Board 
of Health, Lunacy, and Charity. Upon retiring from the 
office of collector of the port in 1801, he received from his 



16 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET. 

personal friends a valuable tea-service of silver plate, lined 
with gold. The presentation was made at the Custom House. 
The Boston press, in speaking of it, said that " We shall 
have to ' go ahead ' a good deal faster than ' the law allows ' 
to get within hailing distance of the Major, who builds all 
the railroads, improves the harbors, manages the agricultural 
interests, and, Atlas-like, upholds Cape Cod on his govern- 
ment-commissioned shoulders." During his long life he has 
not lost his interest and devotion to the principles of the 
Democratic party. 

On the organization of the Cape Cod Central Railroad, he 
was chosen clerk of the company ; and when the consolida- 
tion took place between this road and the Old Colony Rail- 
road Company, in 1872, he presided at a large meeting of 
the directors and citizens, at Masonic Hall, Hyannis, at the 
presentation of a service of plate, by the directors and others, 
to Ephraim N. Winslow, superintendent of the Cape Cod 
road. The principal guests at the dinner were President 
Onslow Stearns, Hon. C. F. Choate, William W. Crapo, Col. J. 
T. Borden, Oliver Ames, S. N. Payson, George Marston, M. L. 
Lincoln, William Cobb, Amos Otis, Dr. Pineo, C. F. Swift, 
Dr. D. N. Stone furnishing a graceful poem. Upon the re- 
tirement of Hon. Nymphas Marston from the office of judge 
of probate. Major Phinney presided at a presentation of a 
service of plate to that gentleman. 

In 1862 he was chosen, at a citizens' meeting of the town 
of Provincetown, to represent that town upon the subject of 
the Fishery Treaty at Washington, when a hearing was had 
by President Grant, the Secretary of State, Hon. Charles 
Sumner, and the Massachusetts delegation in Congress. 

The biographical sketches which are furnished in the 
succeeding pages of this volume show that he has been largely 
identified with the business industries, as well as that of 
politics, of this section of the State, for over sixty years, and 
was, as early as July 9, 1853, notified by the Department 
of State at Washington, of the difficulties relating to the 
fisheries; the letter of Gov. Marcy following in another 
place. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SILVAN US B. PHINNEY. 17 



INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 

Before giving in greater detail an account of the ancestry 
of Major Phinney, together with important historical ref- 
erences and documents preserved in Old Colony records, 
which cannot well be left out, so close is the connection of 
these events with our journalist of so many years, — these he 
has kindly permitted us to peruse, and publish if thought 
desirable, — we may call attention to one or two of the more 
important incidents or events in the treasury of useful in- 
formation, which every lover of history will be glad to read: 
such as the " First Landing of the Pilgrims at Province- 
town," and of the proposed erection of a monument there 
through his direct efforts and those of the Cape Cod Asso- 
ciation ; also a letter from John Adams, addressed to Hon. 
Isaiah L. Green, in December, 1808, which is highly charac- 
teristic of "the old man eloquent; " and the relic containing 
the original signature of Gov. Hancock. The book closes 
with his sketch containing his valedictory address, after a 
service of forty years with " The Patriot." 



18 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF STL VAX US B. PR IN NET. 



TIMOTHY PHINNEY. 

TusroTHY Phinxey, the subject of this sketch, was the 
father of Major Phinney. George Phinney, Esq., a younger 
son, furnished in the columns of his paper, the Waltham 
" Free Press," an interesting account of his long life. He 
says : — 

'•' On Friday, Sept. 28, 1883, there was a gathering of 
relatives and friends at the old burying-ground just west 
of the church on Meeting-house Hill, in Barnstable, Mass., to 
pay the last offices of respect over the mortal remains of one 
who, a century ago nearly, was born a short distance from 
this spot. 

" He was born in Barnstable, June 13, 1784; was the son of 
Deacon Timothy and Temperance (Hinckley) Phinney, both 
of good old Pilgrim stock ; on his father's side being a de- 
scendant of John Phinney, who came over from England to 
Plymouth some nine years after 'The Mayflower' touched our 
shores. His mother was one of the descendants of Thomas 
Hinckley of Barnstable, for years Governor of Pljanouth 
Colony, and subsequently elevated to the same office after 
the annexation of Plymouth to Massachusetts Colony. Dur- 
ing his long life, extending beyond fourscore years and ten, 
Deacon Phinney was prominent in civil and church affairs. 
He held for a time the office of high sheriff of Barnstable 
County, and was also chosen State senator. His grave and 
dignified bearing is still among the recollections of some now 
living, whose memories yet retain the picture of the high 
pulpit with its sounding-board, the church official seated be- 
low facing the audience, and the square pews, while the}" still 
hear in imagination the bang of the hinge-swinging wooden 



BIOGRAPinCAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 19 

seats, raised for the convenience of a standing position during 
prayer. To him was given length of days, and the respect of 
his townsmen, which he hekl to the close of life. 

" The birth of his son Timothy took place only about seven 
months following the evacuation, in November, 1783, by the 
British, of the last position held on our coast, and several 
years prior to the adoption of the present Constitution of the 
United States. It is only necessary to refer to these dates 
in order to realize the great age of one whose life, commen- 
cing near the close of the Revolutionary war, was prolonged 
to the present time, enabling him to note the unexampled 
stride in population and wealth which a century had brought 
about. 

" Early in life Mr. Phinney married Olive Gorham Bourne 
of Barnstable ; and from this union were born a large family 
of sons and daughters, four of whom only are now living, 
viz., S. B. Phinney of Barnstable, the oldest child; Mary 
Bourne, wife of Josiah Walcott of Roxbury ; George Phinney 
of Waltham ; and T. Warren Phinney of Bolinas, Cal. 
A devoted wife and mother, she was likewise a woman of 
marked character and decided religious principles." 



20 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 



AN INTERESTING RELIC. 

ORIGINAL SIGNATURE OF GOV. HANCOCK, WHILE SELECTMAN 
OF BOSTON IN 1773. 



>^o-c<xr 







The foregoing is a remarkably well-executed fac-simile of 
an ancient document, which is especially interesting to the 
descendants of the Bourne family, presented to Major 
Phinney by Gustavus A. Hinckley, Esq., in March, 1887. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 21 

The perusal of documents to which Gov. Hancock appended 
his signature is always interesting to New Englanders, and 
this certificate was written and signed while he was a mem- 
ber of the honored Board of Selectmen of Boston. 

Melatiah Bourne was born Nov. 14, 1722, baptized Oct. 4, 
1724. He married Mary Bayard, an ancestor of the present 
distinguished Secretary of State, and niece of Gov. Bow- 
doin. His son, Capt. Sylvanus Bourne, was for many years 
American consul at Amsterdam ; portraits of his children 
taken in that city are in possession of Major Phinney. His 
son Melatiah married Olive Gorham. Their children were, 
Melatiah, Sj'^lvanus, and Olive, the latter the mother of Major 
Phinney. 

The remains of Melatiah Bourne were entombed in tlie 
cemetery adjoining the Barnstable Unitarian Church. Our 
readers can judge of the high esteem in which he was held 
in Boston, as a merchant engaged in business there for 
many years, by the distinguished historical names attached 
to the certificate. 

The other children of Melatiah were Sarah and Mary. 
He died after a long and painful illness, in September, 1778, 
aged fifty-six. His monument informs us, that he " was a 
gentleman who in public employ conducted himself with 
great reputation to himself and honor to his country ; and in 
the more private walks of social life exhibited those virtues 
which have raised in the bosoms of those who knew him, a 
monument that shall exist when this stone shall be mould- 
ered to its native dust. In him the Christian graces shone 
with peculiar lustre, and the plaudit of an approving con- 
science was the summit of his ambition. 

" Surely when men like these depart, 
The cause of virtue deeply feels the wound." 

The preceding are surely interesting historic reminiscences, 
the publication of which seemed to be called for in connec- 
tion with that of the certificate. 



22 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET. 



OLD MIDDLESEX AND THE OLD COLONY, 1881. 

OLD HEN AND OLD FARMS. — LONGEVITY OF SOME OF ITS 

CITIZENS. 

Editor of The Massachusetts Ploughman. 

Dear Sir, — Your recent inquiries relating to the " Pliin- 
ney farm " in Lexington, Mass., and the longevity of certain 
families in old Middlesex and Barnstable Counties, have led 
me to furnish such particulars as have come under my own 
observation. Fifty years ago the farm of Elias Phinney, 
Esq., of Lexington, in Middlesex County, was one of the 
most celebrated in this State. Mr. Phinney was the first to 
introduce among the farmers of New England the blooded 
stock, and distinguished himself as one of the best agricul- 
turists. More than tliirty years ago, the Barnstable County 
Society received some of his Jersey stock, which has proved 
so valuable in Eastern Massachusetts. For many years Mr. 
Phinney was a trustee of the State Agricultural Society. 
His farm was in the south part of Lexington, and brought 
by him into a high state of cultivation. His farm, fruit-trees, 
and stock attracted visitors from all parts of the country, so 
that his scientific and practical knowledge of husbandry ex- 
erted a wide influence over those engaged in that department 
of industry. He was among the earliest in this State to 
write and lecture upon the subject of agriculture, and many 
of his opinions are even now often quoted and adopted. In 
1825 he published an interesting account of the battle of 
Lexington, in which he vindicated with great ability the 
claims of the town of Lexington against certain pretensions 
" set up by a few indiscreet men of Concord." 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 23 

Mr. Phinne}'- was appointed clerk of the Judicial Courts in 
the County of Middlesex, in 1831, by the recommendation of 
Chief-Justice Lemuel Shaw, which office he held until his 
death. Benjamin Phinney, his father, purchased of David 
Bent a farm in Lexington, of about a hundred acres, as early as 
1786. He was then in feeble health, and soon after conveyed 
it to his son Elias, who was indefatigable in his labors to 
improve it. But few men did a greater work in improving 
agriculture in all its departments. As an evidence of the 
high esteem in which he was held by distinguished men of 
that day because of his devotion to agriculture and horticul- 
ture, let me mention one fact under my own observation. A 
few years before his death, and while he was attending court 
at Lowell, his house with all its contents, together with his 
barn containing his agricultural implements, were destroyed 
by fire. No sooner had the news reached the city of Boston, 
than Col. Marshall P. Wilder, Chief-Justice Shaw, and the 
Hons. Abbott and Amos Lawrence made up a purse of three 
thousand dollars, and sent him a check for that amount. 
This enabled him to re-build upon the old premises. 

Benjamin Phinney lived to be ninety-nine years of age, 
and resided with his son Elias until his death. The brother 
of Benjamin, Deacon Timothy Phinney, resided in Barnstable, 
and lived to be ninety-three years of age. He held the office 
of sheriff, and represented this county in the State Senate. 
Deacon Phinney had a son Timothy (the fatlier of S. B. 
Phinney), who married his second wife in Bridgeport, N. S., 
where he now resides. If he lives until the 13th of June next, 
he will be ninety-seven years of age. He enjoys good health, 
and within a few weeks has written his son to know if he can- 
not procure a 'pension! He says that during the war of 1812 
he Avas mustered into a company at Barnstable to do military 
duty, and marched to Harwich and frequently to Hyannis aijd 
Falmouth, to defend those places against the attacks. of British 
vessels. Afterwards he was taken a prisoner, with his son, 
onboard the British frigate "Nymph," in Barnstable Bay, and 
the vessel burned. The papers were lost, the enrolment 
burnt, and as yet no pension has been procured. 



24 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. PHINNET. 

The longevity of tliis family is somewhat remarkable. 
Nancy, one of the daughters of Deacon Phinney, married 
Deacon John Monroe of Barnstable. She died in January 
last, aged eighty-eight years. Deacon Monroe died in Febru- 
ary previous, aged ninety-five years. His mother, Abigail 
Monroe, the eldest daughter of Jonathan Parker of Roxbury, 
Mass., was born Jan. 30, 1753, and died in Barnstable, 
May 1, 1844, aged ninety-one years. Deacon Monroe was 
generally and favorably known in this county as the treasurer 
of the Barnstable Savings Institution for more than forty 
years. George Phinney, Esq., a son of Timothy Phinney, a 
somewhat younger scion, emigrated to Middlesex County, and 
as editor and proprietor of the Waltham " Free Press " is 
doing good service in promoting the cause of agriculture 
through the columns of his paper. But you will excuse my 
prosy narrative. I was led to say this much for the readers of 
your excellent paper, at your suggestion, believing that some 
of them might be gratified to know how strong tlie ties that 
existed between old Middlesex and this section of the State. 

S. B. PHINNEY. 

Baknstable, Jan. 2i, 18S1. 



BIOGRAPniCAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. FEIN NET. 25 



PERSONAL SKETCHES. 

Says a correspondent in the Boston "Commonwealth" in 
September, 1882, "I have mentioned Major S. B. Phinney. 
He is still a landmark of no minor importance. From our 
earliest remembrance he was the one ' stalwart ' Democrat of 
the town, ever present at conventions, ever to be consulted 
on important occasions, and ever to be rewarded with political 
favors if any were to fall worth taking. It will please many 
old friends to know that he is now, at the age of seventy- 
five, almost as active and sparkling as in his prime. Despite 
his strong political bias, the Major was ever a public-spirited 
citizen, interested in every thing that concerned the town or 
the Cape. In centennial, agricultural, railroad, or patriotic 
celebrations, he was ever put foremost ; and no man can say 
that he did not discharge his duty to the fullest acceptance. 
When he disposed of the ' Patriot ' newspaper, a few years 
ago, it was thought he had closed, for good, his political 
career ; but it is said that even now his fellow Democrats 
have some doubts of the orthodoxy of those sent to conven- 
tions, unless the Major himself presents to the caucus the list 
of delegates. Barnstable's history could never be written 
without recording the services of this versatile editor, farmer, 
politician, and village Hampden ; and his fame goes down to 
later generations, on a tablet in front of the custom-house, 
from which we learn, that, while it was commenced under 
the administration of James Guthrie, Secretary of the 
Treasury, it was finished under that of S. B. Phinney, 
Collector of Customs, thus deservedly uniting two worthy 
gentlemen in the same commemoration. The beautiful resi- 
dence of Major Phinney occupies the site of the house of 



26 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF STLVANUS B. PHINNEY. 

Thomas Sturgis, a brother of Russell Sturgis the Boston 
merchant, and was formerly occupied by Capt. Ira Bursley, 
famous as the commander of a Boston line of merchantmen 
to Liverpool, and later of a New- York line to the same port. 
It would be difficult to find a more lovely spot, a more 
hospitable house, or inmates more possessed of old-time grace 
and kindness." 

The New-York "World" of the 27th April, 1885, in 
connection with the Bartholdi colossal statue of Liberty, 
then on its way from France, says, — 

"A ringing letter comes from Major S. B. Phinney, of 
Cape Cod, enclosing a check for seventeen dollars and fifty 
cents, contributed by a few libertj'-loving citizens. Mr. 
Phinney is an Old Colony patriot, and was present at the 
reception given to Gen. Lafayette, on the occasion of the 
laying of the corner-stone of the Bunker-hill Monument, in 
1824. 

"He comprehends the patriotic nature of the 'World's' 
efforts in behalf of the pedestal, and a vigorous spread of 
such healthy enthusiasm as this would soon complete the 
work. It was the spirit engendered at Bunker Hill, and 
nursed at Valley Forge, that levelled the Bastille, and gave 
king-craft that never-forgotten lesson, there is no true sove- 
reignty but tliat of honest manhood. 

" It was the liberty-loving race that sent us Lafayette, that 
now sends us this masterpiece of art wherewith to crown the 
gateway of our complete Eepublic." 



Says the Boston " Post," Nov. 9, 1886, " Major Phinney 
came up from Barnstable to shake hands with President 
Cleveland yesterday. 

" More than fifty years ago he came to Boston to shake 
hands with President Jackson. 

" He gave at a public dinner, at that timCj the following 
sentiment : — 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 27 

" ' President Jackson's visit to Boston. When the procla- 
mation cast Daniel into the lions' den, no manner of hurt was 
found upon him. But when the era of good feeling cauHit the 
lion in Daniel's den, he like to have been killed with kintmess.' 

" Major Phinney has given his support to Democratic 
principles through all that time, — for forty years as editor 
of the Barnstable ' Patriot.' When Grover Cleveland was 
nominated for President, no one in South-eastern Massachu- 
setts gave him a more zealous and able support than he." 



28 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 



ISAIAH L. GREEN. 

Isaiah Lewis Green, of Barnstable, father-in-law of 
Major Phinney, was one of the most distinguished men of 
the Old Colony. He was the son of Rev. Joseph Green, and 
born in Barnstable, Dec. 28, 1761. He graduated at Har- 
vard College in 1781 ; was elected a member of Congress 
from the Barnstable District in 1805-9, and again in 1811-13 ; 
and appointed collector of the port of Barnstable by Presi- 
dent Madison in 1814, which office he held for nearly twenty- 
five years. He died in 1811, leaving a large family. 

The Act of Congress, declaring war with Great Britain, 
for which Mr. Green voted, passed the House of Represent- 
atives by a majority of 79 to 49, and the United States Sen- 
ate by a majority of 19 to 13. ^j the frequent impressment 
of our seamen, and the injury done our commerce by Eng- 
land, the war was considered unavoidable, and our State and 
National Governments were prepared to support it with their 
lives and fortunes ; and Barnstable District 

^'- Hesolved, That the Hon. Isaiah L. Green, our Congres- 
sional representative, has done nobly, and deserves well of 
his country, and that he enjoys the confidence of his con- 
stituents : therefore 

" Resolved^ That we will support the Constitution and 
Government of the United States against the invasion of 
a foreign enemy, the intrigues of a domestic faction, or the 
usurpation of individual States ; and that we have the fullest 
confidence in the wisdom, firmness, and patriotism of the 
President and Congress, of whose doings we cordially ap- 
prove." 

The Cape Cod historian, in reference to this war, says that 




d^^^?*--ex'-p»--^ „».^^^^^ 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET. 29 

at no time was the warmth of party feeling abated during the 
struggle. The Government sustained tlie Act of Congress, 
and was sustained by the able and determined support of 
Barnstable County, notwithstanding all the privations and 
inconveniences that the war occasioned. During a portion 
of the war the streets of Barnstable were filled with troops 
from every portion of the county. The daughter of Capt. 
Thomas Sturgis, who resided upon the homestead now occu- 
pied by Major Phinney, near the old church in Barnstable, 
presented one of the officers a beautiful regimental flag, with 
neat and patriotic sentiments. In this connection, the follow- 
ing letter of Mr. Green to Major-Gen. Dearborn of Boston, 
calling for assistance by the aid of flying artillery, will be 
read with interest. 

OFFICIAL LETTER TO MAJOR-GEN. DEARBORN. 

Collector's Office, Barnstable, 
June 21, 1814. 

*S'{;*, — I take the liberty to address you, and to state to 
you the exposed situation of this town and its vicinity to the 
depredations of the enemy, who are carrying on an unprin- 
cipled and disgraceful kind of warfare on our sea-coasts. 
We consider our danger much increased by the accumulation 
of foreign merchandise brought into this district, in conse- 
quence of the blockade, by neutral vessels. Within a few 
days a valuable prize has arrived, and her cargo is now stor- 
ing here ; add to this, a very large quantity of oil belonging 
to the United States, brought from Nantucket for greater 
safety, is now stored here. 

We have no artillery, and our militia are not armed and 
equipped as they ought to be. The selectmen will address 
the Governor, requesting, a supply of army and military 
stores, but we have no expectation that he will send any 
troops here. I have, therefore, as well in behalf of the pub- 
lic interest, as for the safety of the inhabitants, conceived it 
my duty to make you this representation, and to request that 
if there is any disposable force of the United States at your 



30 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 

command, a small detachment may be immediately sent on 
and stationed at this place. We conceive that as we are 
liable to be attacked at so many di£ferent points, it is believed 
that flying artillery would be the most eligible kind of force. 

I am, sir, with much respect, 

Your most obed't servt., 

ISAIAH L. GREEN, Coll. 
Hon. Majok-Gen. Dearborn, Boston. 



BIOGRAPUICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET. 31 



AN OLD DOCUMENT. 

LETTERS OF MARK AND REPRISAL. 

In a recent iosue of tlie Boston "Post" [the "Patriot" 
says] is an interesting letter, written by Major S. B. Phinney, 
introducing an old document found among the papers of the 
late Isaiah L. Green, one of the most prominent men of our 
county ia his time. His father, grandfather, and great-grand- 
father were clergymen ; and he was a graduate of Harvard 
College, but did not follow in the footsteps of his ancestors 
by adopting their profession. He was early in life elected to 
Congress, and on being succeeded there by the late Hon. 
John Reed, was appointed collector of this district by Presi- 
dent Madison, his commission bearing date of March 4, 
1814. He was the third collector of the district, having 
succeeded William Otis ; and he was in turn succeeded by 
Hon, Henry Crocker in 1837. The portrait of Mr. Green, as 
well as that of Mr. Crocker, and others of their successors, 
have been procured by the present collector, and now adorn 
the walls of the collector's office at the Custom House. Mr. 
Green lived to be eighty years of age. He died in Cambridge. 
His eldest son, Dr. Joseph Green, died in New Jersey a little 
more than a year ago ; another son, Isaiah L., died earlier in 
life, while studying law in the office of the late Judge Warren 
of New Bedford. Two children only of his family are now 
living: Hannah Russell Green, and his youngest daughter, 
Lucia G., the wife of Major S. B. Phinney. 

[Correspondence of the " Boston Post."] 

Barnstahle, Feb. 20, 1882. 

The enclosed letter, written by John Adams, has recently 
been found among the private papers of the late Isaiah L. 
Green of Barnstable, and will be read with interest by very 



32 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF STLVANUS B. PHINNEY. 

many of the readers of the "Post." Mr. Green represented 
this district in Congress as early as the year 1805, and gave 
his vote for the war of 1812. Congress had previously laid 
an embargo upon American vessels, and in no other section 
was tliere greater suffering than in the industries of Cape 
Cod. The fisheries was the vital, leading industry of Barn- 
stable County ; and the impressment of our seamen, and the 
injury done to our commerce, by Great Britain, was seriously 
felt throughout New England. It was the sailor's rights for 
which we were contending. Mr. Green conscientiously be- 
lieved it to be the duty of our country to redress the wrongs 
of England ; and although representing a district lai'gely en- 
gaged in commercial pursuits, he believed it to be his duty, 
and did give his vote for the war, remarking at the same time 
to a member of the House of Representatives seated by his 
side, that "it had cost him his seat." He was not mistaken 
in the sentiments of his constituents, for John Reed succeed- 
ed him at the next congressional election, and continued to 
represent this district for nearly a quarter of a century. 
President Madison, however, did not forget the patriotism 
of Mr. Green, and manifested his regard for this gentleman, 
after hearing of his defeat, by causing him to be commis- 
sioned as collector of the port of Barnstable, which he con- 
tinued to hold under various administrations for more than 
twenty years. 

It w-as the younger Adams who had, in a great degree, the 
conducting of the negotiations, but it was the father who 
sent to Madison a very significant letter, in which he said he 
would continue the war indefinitely "rather than give up 
one iota of our rights to the fisheries." Eastern Massachu- 
setts suffered by this war, in her commerce and fisheries, even 
more largely than under the fishing treaty so ingloriously 
entered into by our Government some eight years ago. Our 
capital, now as then, is largely employed in commercial pur- 
suits. After the declaration of the war of 1812, there was 
scarcely a village in this county that could sustain itself in 
the fisheries; and our citizens built salt-works, and went into 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 33 

the manufacture of salt by solar evaporation, which has been 
continued until within a few years. This, for the most part, 
was found an unprofitable investment, and the works are now 
nearly all destro3'ed. The policy which has been adopted by 
the Republican party, under the Treaty of Washington, has 
been almost as ruinous. It is clearly shown that we cannot 
successfully compete with the Provinces in free fish. The 
admission of free fish into all parts of our country has already 
built up an industry in the Provinces to the great detriment 
of our own ; and those of our citizens who have not heretofore 
favored a protective policy have come to the conclusion that 
it is the duty of our Government to protect, at least, an 
industry so hazardous as that of the fisheries. Vessels not 
adapted to any other business have, in a great degree, been 
lost ; and we are living on, hoping for a change in the admin- 
istration, if not a change for the better. 

I have been led to these remarks, Mr. Editor, by the letter 
of Mr. Adams, which has so recently come to light, and be- 
cause it calls so forcibly to mind the sufferings of so large a 
number of her citizens who had their homes upon our shores, 
and were constantly exposed to the aggressions of the Eng- 
lish fleet. 

Congress may well give some of its attention to an industry 
so important as that of the fisheries. The annual products 
of the fisheries, in fish, oil, and bone, in Massachusetts alone, 
within a few years, amounted to near $17,000,000. And yet 
Congress, of late years, seems almost to have lost sight of 
this fact, by giving to the Provinces the rights and privileges 
so clearly belonging to our own citizens. John Adams clear- 
ly foresaw the difficulties we were to suffer, as early as 1808 
when in correspondence with Mr. Green, and that a war 
would inevitably grow out of British aggressions. In 1807 a 
British man-of-war had poured a broadside into an American 
vessel, killing twenty men. The war finally came ; the year 
1812 was an eventful one. Another embargo was laid in 
April, and in June war was declared. In December the frigate 
" Constitution " captured the British frigate " Java," and in 



34 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET. 

June following the naval battle took place off Boston Harbor, 
between the United States frigate " Chesapeake," under com- 
mand of Capt. James Lawrence, and the British frigate " Shan- 
non," in which the " Chesapeake " was captured, and Capt. 
Lawrence mortally wounded. Not a few of the citizens of 
Cape Cod distinctly heard the guns during this engagement. 
The frequent landing upon our shores, and the reprisals levied 
upon the towns, were cause for the constant alarm which was 
felt. Many of the soldiers are living who continue to relate 
the trying scenes which " tried men's souls " in those trying 
times. The letter which follows has lain peacefully at rest 
for nearly seventy-five years. As it was written some six 
years before the burning of the Capitol at Washington, it is 
interesting as coming from so celebrated a statesman as John 
Adams. Yours very truly, 

S. B. PHINNEY. 

LETTER OF JOHN ADAMS. 

QuiNCY, Dec. 9, 1808. 

Sir: I received yesterday, from the Post office, under your frank, the 
nervous reply of Nine of our Representatives to certain Resolutions. 
Having read it with pleasure I thank you for your politeness in sending 
it to me. While it treats our State Legislature with ail the respect it 
deserves, it is written with as much candor and moderation as perspicuity 
and energy. The facts are fairly stated, and the conclusions are so ur- 
gent that I know of but one answer that your antagonists can give, and 
that is, " Repeal the Embargo, let us arm our ships, give us Letters of 
Mark, and we will seek our fortune and fight our way. In the mean time 
build frigates as fast as you can to protect and assist us, and we will 
cheerfully pay Coast Rates, Stamp Duties, Land Taxes, and bear all other 
burthens the war may produce." If I had not known by fifty years ex- 
perience the enormous Gullet of Party, I should scarcely have believed 
that a INIajority of five hundred wise men of the East would have swal- 
lowed such Large lumps as that "in the Embargo Laws only we are to 
look for the cause of the public distress ; " and that in their repeal we 
may look " for permanent relief." 

But in a letter intended only to thank you for your civility I am not 
about to trouble you with political discussions of which I presume you 
have enough and to spare. 

I am. Sir, respectfully your most humble servt., 

J. ADAMS. 

The Hon. Isaiah L. Green, Esq., Member of CoagrcsB. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF STL VAN US B. PHINNEY. 35 



VALUABLE HISTORY. 

Editor Barnstable Journal. 

Some twenty-four years ago I opened a correspondence 
with Amos Otis of Yarmouth, who was well versed in the 
history of Barnstable, and suggested to him the desirability 
of publishing weekly, in the columns of my paper, his ample 
store of historical knowledge, as "he seemed at that time to 
be so largely a link between the present and the past." He 
at first hesitated, remarking that such a publication would 
probably occupy a year or more. He finally consented to my 
proposition, and the deeply interesting and useful articles 
which he furnished extended over a much longer period than 
he anticipated, and he did not live to complete the history. I 
am now solicited by friends to republish this history, believ- 
ing, as you have suggested, that it will be found of interest ; 
the more so, as an intelligent gentleman of this town, who 
has given much time and research to the subject, and who is 
well qualified for the task, has under consideration a con- 
tinuance and completion of the work, from the point to which 
Mr. Otis carried it, thus furnishing a complete biographical 
treasury of our ancient families not otherwise obtainable. 
I will furnish copies of his papers for publication, which I 
have carefully preserved, although it never occurred to me 
that I should live to see its revival an accomplished fact. 

I enclose herewith his letter of the 15th of November, 
1861, with No. 1 of his history, beginning with the family of 
Thomas Allyn. I have preserved carefully this history as 
originally furnished me by Mr. Otis. It is now the only 
correct copy in existence, and I have copyrighted it for re- 
publication. They will find it to their advantage to carefully 
preserve all the copies, as important historical information 



36 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 

relating to very many of the families of the town of Barn- 
stable has been promised for publication, that this history 
may be carried forward to completion. 

Respectfully yours, etc., 

S. B. PHINNEf. 

Barnstable, Dec. 26, 1886. 

LETTER OF AMOS OTIS, THE HISTORIAN. 

Yarmouth, Nov. 15, 1861. 
To S. B. Phinnet. 

For several years past, I have spent much of my leisure 
time in examining records and collecting materials for a 
history of my native town. Old age is " creeping on," and 
I find I have done little towards arranging the materials I 
have collected. There are more difficulties to be surmounted 
than the casual observer dreams of. Records have been 
destroyed, lost, mutilated ; tradition is not to be relied on ; 
and the truth can only be arrived at by diligent inquiry and 
comparison of various records and memorials of the past. The 
fact is, the writer of a local history finds himself environed 
with difficulties at every step in his progress, and is compelled 
to use such words as "perhaps" and " probably," much 
oftener than good taste would seem to require. If the reader 
would be satisfied with facts chronologically arranged, the 
task would not be so difficult; diligence and industry would 
accomplish it. But something more is required. A dull, 
monotonous array of facts and figures would soon tire and 
disgust all, excepting perhaps a few plodding antiquarians 
who are never happier than when poring over a black-letter 
manuscript. The page to be made readable must be en- 
livened with description, narratives, and personal anecdotes. 
When writing history, I often feel that I am in the condition 
of the children of Israel, when they were required by their 
Egyptian taskmasters to make bricks without straw. Three 
times I have written the first chapter of a history of the town 
of Barnstable, and three times have I thrown the manuscript 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PBINNET. 37 

into the fire. Progressing at such a rate, my head will be 
whiter than it now is, before the last chapter is written. 

My friends are constantly urging me to do something, and 
not let the materials I have collected be lost ; and I have 
decided to write a series of " Family Sketches," like those 
of Mr. Deane, in his History of Scituate. These sketches, 
though far from being accurate, are the most interesting 
portion of his work. As a general rule, I do not intend that 
each number shall occupy more than a column and a half. 
To give a full history of some of the families, namely, that 
of Hinckley, Crocker, Otis, Lothrop, Bacon, and others, 
would require a volume. Thes6 will necessarily be longer; 
but a sketch of some of the families need occupy only a few 
paragraphs. 

I shall write them in an alphabetical series, beginning with 
the All}^! family. That there will not be a thousand mis- 
takes and omissions in each, I would not dare to affirm ; but 
there is one thing I will venture to assert : I can point out 
more deficiencies in them than any other living man. I 
desire, however, that persons having additional information, 
or the means of correcting any error into which I may have 
fallen, would communicate the same. I presume there are 
many documents preserved in family archives which would 
afford me valuable aid in the work I have undertaken, and 
it would give me much satisfaction if the owners would loan 
me the same or furnish copies. 

In giving a genealogical account of the families, nearly all 
the facts in relation to the history of the town will have to 
be given. In the Allyn family, I give some account of the 
original laying-out of the town ; in the Lothrop family, a 
history of the First Church; and in other families where the 
ancestor was the leading man in any enterprise, the history 
of that work cannot well be omitted. In this manner nearly 
all the principal events in the history of the town will pass 
in review, and such consideration be given to them as time, 
space, or opportunity will admit. 

I make no promises ; I claim no immunity from criticism. 



38 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. FHINNET. 

I may get tired, before writing one-half of the proposed sixty 
columns, and it may be that the publisher will get sick of 
his bargain, even before that time. To those who take no 
interest in genealogy, I have only one remark to make. 
My ancient friend and schoolmaster, Deacon Joseph Hawes, 
would often say he was a skiptic ; that is, if he met with an 
article in a book or newspaper that did not please him, he 
" skipt over it." 

I have one more suggestion to make. I would recommend 
to those who do take an interest in these articles, to cut them 
out and paste them into a scrap-book, leaving on each page a 
wide margin for corrections, additions, and notes. To those 
who take less interest in the matter, I would suggest that 
they cut out the article in relation to their own families, and 
paste at least the genealogical portion on the fly-leaf of their 
family Bibles ; their grandchildren may take an interest in 

the subject, if they do not. 

AMOS OTIS. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PUINNET. 39 



IMPORTANT LETTER 

RELATING TO THE FISHERIES. 

Depaktment of State, "Washington, 
July 9, 1853. 

S. B. PnixxFA', Esq., 

Collector of Customs, Barnstable, Mass. 

Sir^ — The President has learned with much surprise of 
the excitement that exists among our fellow-citizens who are 
interested in the fisheries off the coasts of British North 
America, and that they are apprehensive of molestation dur- 
ing the approaching fishing season. Relying confidently on 
your intelligence and activity, he is persuaded that you will 
use all the means in your power to diffuse a good understand- 
ing amongst those engaged in the fishing interest. You will 
warn them of the consequences of committing any unfriendly 
act during the progress of the pending negotiations, as any 
such act may postpone indefinitely the settlement of this 
vexatious question, and the result would be likely, in any 
event, to prove hazardous to themselves. Any armed re- 
sistance on the part of the fishing vessels, either singly or 
combined, would be an act of private hostility which can 
never receive any countenance from this Government. 

You will omit nothing whatever that your knowledge of 
the circumstances may suggest, and which our good faith 
towards a power with which we are, and desire to remain, at 
peace, demands, to prevent any rash or illegal movements 
intended or calculated to violate our obligations towards a 
friendly foreign power and our colonial neighbors. 

I have been directed by the President to invite your per- 
sonal and prompt atteption to this matter, and to assure you 



40 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. PHINNET. 

that he places entire confidence in your active and judicious 
exertions to soothe the present irritation of popular feeling, 
excited in some instances, it is said, by unfounded reports of 
alleged violation of our national rights. Every good citizen 
should be solicitous to prevent any occurrence which may 
further excite that feeling. No violation of the Colonial 
local ^law should be attempted, and their civil autliorities 
and other officers should have due respect paid to them 
within their jurisdiction. 

In case of insult to the American flag, or injury to our 
fishermen, you will request them to transmit the particulars, 
properly substantiated, to the Department of State, instead 
of attempting to settle the difficulties themselves. 

Our hardy and useful seamen may rest assured while en- 
gaged in their lawful avocations, all over the world, that no 
outrage or indignity which they may suffer will be permitted 
to go unnoticed, but that they will be protected to the 
utmost of its power by the Government of their country. 

I am, sir, respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

\VM. L. UAUCY, Secretcmj of State. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET. 41 



SPEECH OF MAJOR PHINNEY. 

At a large meeting of the Barnstable County Democratic 
Club, at Hyannis, in May, 1885, to the toast of "The Fisher- 
ies of Cape Cod," President McLaughlin called upon Major 
S. B. Phinney to respond, the members rising to their feet 
and cheering him lustily. He spoke as follows : — 

Mr. President and Fellow Democrats of Cape Cod, — It 
affords me great pleasure to meet so many of my Democratic 
friends here to-day, not only to celebrate a great Democratic 
victory, but to take part in the organization of the " Barn- 
stable Count}^ Democratic Club." Its objects are for political 
and social purposes, but I may with propriety say we meet 
more particularly to look after the fishing and commercial 
interests of this section of South-eastern Massachusetts.' In 
this important movement, Mr. President, we have the zealous 
co-operation of President Cleveland, who will stand by the 
fishermen to restore their rights against the ruinous policy of 
the Republican party. The fishery question with the citizens 
of Cape Cod is a vital one, and through your instrumentality, 
Mr. President, at a recent meeting of the Democratic County 
Committee at Sandwich, the following resolution was adopted. 
It contains the united sentiment of the Democracy of this 
county. 

" Resolved., That this meeting, in view of the ruinous effects 
of the Treaty of Washington upon our fishing interests, and 
the repeal of the cod-fishery bounty under Republican rule, 
and by a Republican Congress, it is incumbent upon the 
Democratic party of Barnstable County to labor zealously 
with a Democratic Congress and a Democratic President to 
restore to the fishermen this branch of industry which has so 



42 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 

loner been of crreat value to the commerce and marine of the 
country." 

This resolution was a disturbing element, as it fully ex- 
posed the Republican party in the blow which was directly 
aimed at the most important industry of our citizens in the 
repeal of the fishing bounty, and tlie ruinous policy of the 
Treaty of Washington. Our sailors have valiantly stood by 
the American flag on the land and on the sea for one hun- 
dred years, and no sooner had the Republican party succeeded 
to power, and got the control of every department of the 
Federal Government, than the bounty to fishermen was at 
once taken from them, and the greatest blunder of this or any 
other government was perpetrated in enacting a clause in the 
Treaty of Washington, which has done so much to sap the in- 
dustry of Cape Cod in the destruction of the cod-fishery. 
This treaty, as Mr. Secretary Fish had told us, had become 
an administration measure. At a hearing before a Congres- 
sional committee the statistics showed that the annual re- 
ceipts in Massachusetts alone, of fish, oil, and bone, amounted 
to more than $17,000,000 ! In every treaty which has been 
made, the Republicans have treated this subject as of little or 
no importance, and finally we were swindled out of 15,500,000. 
And this was being done while Massachusetts was furnishing 
twenty-five thousand men for the navy of the United States. 
Everybody knows that our fishermen were indispensable to the 
safet}^ of our government. Gen. Sherman recognized their 
importance when he said that it was a Cape Cod fisherman 
whose knowledge of the Southern coast had saved his entire 
fleet from shipwreck in the gale off Newbern, N. C. The war 
of 1812 crippled the fisheries to such an extent that a Demo- 
cratic Congress relieved the fishermen by the bounty act, 
which was passed as early as 1819. This was continued until 
repealed by the Republicans. Barnstable County largely de- 
pended upon her fisheries and the bounty, the loss of which, 
since its repeal, amounts to more that ^1,000,000. We are 
now told by the Republican press that the fishermen were 
anxious to be relieved of this burthen, and petitioned Con- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. PHINNET. 43 

gress to repeal it. They fail, however, in this connection, to 
tell us of the promises made them, to warrant their continu- 
ing this perilous business. But it is not forgotten that in 
Gloucester alone, thirteen vessels belonging to the fishing 
fleet went down in one gale, carrying with them 143 men, 
leaving 53 widows and 137 fatherless children. The 
press undertake to blind the people by telling them that 
this hazardous business needs none of our protection, as it 
has been offset by the duty upon salt. Tliis drawback to 
the fishermen proved to be a troublesome matter to the 
revenue officers, and it is now admitted not to be " quite 
equal to the bounty." This, too, was one of the measures of 
Republican administration. It is unjust to the fishermen to 
say that the evasions and " subterfuge of the more unscrupu- 
lous fishermen in the pursuit of their business " was an in- 
ducement for them to " petition Congress for its repeal," and 
rather than carry it on at such great odds a Republican Con- 
gress granted their request. It was a " gratuitous insult to 
their intelligence," for, when they were appealed to by a 
prominent Republican official in this county, who wrote and 
presented the petition, they were assured of its full equiva- 
lent in another form. They would now have us believe it 
was not a " question of politics ; " but everybody knows that 
its repeal, and the gross blunders and ruinous measures grow- 
ing out of the fishing treaty, were acts of the Republican 
party. They had lost sight of the injunction of the elder 
Adams, who believed that we should " continue the Revolu- 
tionary war rather than give up our rights to the fisheries." 
A full statement was made by our fishermen, setting forth 
their grievances to a committee of Congress, in the hope that 
they would get some indemnification ; but the answer to this 
was that these measures had become administration measures, 
that there was no relief, and they adopted the treaty. The 
policy of the Democratic party, from the foundation of the 
government, has been to foster and take care of the three 
great leading industries of this country, — that of agriculture, 
commerce, and the fisheries. Who was the father of the 



44 BlOGRAPniCAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEi'. 

American fisheries? Thomas Jefferson. Who first sent the 
message to Congress as President, representing the value of 
the American fisheries ? Thomas Jefferson. Who, as Secre- 
tary of State, wrote tlie ablest article that ever has been writ- 
ten upon this subject? Thomas Jefferson. Who has always 
stood up for American commerce and the fisheries in the past, 
when they had the power? The Democracy. Now let us, 
as Democrats of the Jeffersonian school, come forward and 
stand together, and restore these great industries to the 
country. Don't be lulled into inaction ; but when Congress 
meets see that it speaks as the legislative bodies used to speak 
in 1775 and 1776. We have already seen that the Washing- 
ton Treaty is like all other British treaties, — they got the 
better of us. The object of the Democratic party is now to 
build up from the ruins of the Republican party, and place it 
where it stood in the days of Jefferson and Jackson, "as the 
best and only securit}' for free government." It is estimated 
that the fisheries of New England employ thirt^^-seven thou- 
sand men, and that the population of the United States sup- 
ported by the fisheries exceeds half a million. The entire 
population supported by the fisheries consume 130,000,000 of 
our agricultural products, and the New England fisheries pay 
in local taxes about $3,000,000 on the capital employed in 
them ; and yet our opponents undertake to deceive us by 
the cry that this is a " dead issue," and that the Democratic 
County Committee might as well have passed resolutions 
against the "alien and sedition laws," as to attempt to stand 
by the fishermen in their labors to restore their rights. 

It is our duty occasionally to review the past. Our citizens 
may well feel indignant that they should lose their rights, 
and be compelled to pay so largely to promote the fisheries of 
the Provinces. The result has been that the heaviest failures 
ever known among our citizens have been the result of the 
operation of this treaty. Bankruptcy and ruin have taken 
place among those who have given a long life of labor to this 
business. This has grown out of the Republican party 
undertaking the experiment of legislating for the benefit of 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 45 

foreign fishermen, instead of that of our own. England and 
France foster and take care of their commerce and their fish- 
eries. The Republican party has proved recreant to both. 
The citizens of the United States are crippled in these im- 
portant industries, and we are losing annually largely of our 
men and our vessels, and unless a Democratic Congress does 
its duty in restoring oar commerce, it is feared we shall have 
to give place to the rapid inroads of foreigners. There is 
evidently a "tide in the affairs of men," and that tide was 
clearly manifested in the last political campaign. Very many 
of the clergymen who joined with Burchard in the religious 
meeting held at New York are fully impressed with the 
belief that there was an inspiration connected with his won- 
derful address, and that he had been governed by an over- 
ruling Providence. 

Let me add, in conclusion, that with economy and perse- 
verance we hope to recover from the terrible blow which the 
commerce of this country has suffered. If nothing better can 
be had, let us take the bill of Mr. Boutwell for the encour- 
agement of ship-building. It is in the power of Congress to 
furnish the required relief, both to commerce and the fish- 
eries. With this we shall not so often have to ask ourselves, 
" What is to be the future of Cape Cod ? " Wlien the Re- 
publican party came into power, there were only four districts 
in the United States which exceeded Barnstable in the extent 
of enrolled tonnage. These were New York, Boston, Phila- 
delphia, and New Orleans. It then had an enrolled and 
registered tonnage of 48,980. It had 54:8 vessels employed 
in the coasting and fishing trade, 335 of which were engaged 
in the fisheries alone, and a valued tonnage of $1,700,000, and 
the product of the fisheries was valued annually at -fl, 271, 000. 
There were ten shipyards in this county, in which vessels 
were built of from fifty to one thousand tons, and there were 
employed more than two thousand laborers. These 3'ards 
are now all closed, and Mr. McKa}', who was one of the most 
extensive builders in New England, spoke of the ruinous 
policy of this Government, and that England, by her liberal 



46 BIOGRAPniCAL SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. PHINNEY. 

polic}^ was enabled to build a " ship of one thousand tons, 
nearly 820,000 less in the Provinces than it could possibl}^ be 
built in this country." He was forced to close his yard at 
South Boston and discharge his men. And yet all these 
grievances could not move a Republican Congress to relieve 
the ship-building, which is so essential to the success of every 
civilized countr}'. So much of this is due to the action of 
"old Bourbon" rubbish, that there is good reason to believe 
that under a Democratic administration the rights of fisher- 
men and commerce will be restored, realizing, as we do, that 
more than fifty per cent has already been depreciated. Presi- 
dent Cleveland will do much to guard the rights of com- 
merce ; and I will close by proposing a sentiment, trusting 
that he will save us from the poverty and ruin which the 
Treaty of Washington imposed on us : — 

" President Cleveland. A genuine inheritor of the prin- 
ciples and patriotism of Andrew Jackson ; a practical 
business man ; a sound and independent j^olitician. His 
talents, industry, and unbending integrity have the unre- 
served confidence of his friends, the respect of his political 
opponents, and the unsolicited confidence of the Government. 
The people have rewarded his merits." 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. PHINNEY. 47 



PRESIDENT GRANT'S VISIT 

TO BARNSTABLE IN 1S76. 

Considerable preparation had been made for the arrival 
of the Old Colony train of cars at Barnstable, having on board 
our honored President and several members of his Cabinet; 
flags having been displayed throughout the village. Major 
Phinney, having been selected to welcome him, said, — 

Mr. President^ — There is much relating to old Barnstable 
that our people have cause to be proud of, and you will par- 
don me for saying that there is no portion of the United 
States where you have a stronger hold upon the hearts of 
the people than here. Here was the home of Gov. Hinckley, 
the first of the Governors after the separation of the Colonies, 
nearly two centuries and a half ago. Here the distinguished 
patriot and statesman, James Otis, who fired the Revolution, 
was born. Here were reared many of the pioneers of the 
Revolution. Here, upon Meeting-house Hill, were the first 
soldiers mustered who reported themselves at headquarters in 
Cambridge; as among the first of the pioneers of American 
Independence. In the west part of this town is the First 
Independent " Congregational Church " of tWat name in the 
world. Shall I say, that when the Rebellion broke out, in 
this and the adjoining town of Sandwich was raised the first 
company within forty-eight hours after the news was received 
that Virginia had seceded ? This company was doing good 
service at Fortress Monroe ; and I witnessed with them, on 
that memorable Sabbath, the naval battle between the iron- 
clads " Monitor " and " Merrimac." It is sad to say that but 
seventeen of those brave boys who rallied at Sandwich lived 
to be welcomed to their homes after the close of war. A 



48 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 

remnant of the flag, at that time presented to the company 
with words of encouragement, is now unfurled before you. 
All along our shores were found strong arms and brave hearts. 
Gen. Sherman tells us that a Cape Cod pilot saved his 
fleet from shipwreck, off the Southern coast, in one of the 
most terrible storms ever experienced. That pilot, a native 
son of Hyannis, you had an opportunity of greeting, among 
other brave sailors, to-day. You have had an opportunity to 
know that the barren shores of Cape Cod have been fortu- 
nate in rearing men, and women too, who have always been 
prompt to respond to your call and that of their country. In 
closing, Mr. President, let me again thank you for the honor 
which you have done us in the flying visit you have made to 
the shores of Cape Cod, recognized as it is as the " right arm 
of the Old Bay State." 



BIOGRAPniCAL SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. PHINNEY. 49 



HISTORICAL LETTER. 

THE DAWN OF THE CENTENNIAL YEAR. — ITS OBSERVANCE 
IN BARNSTABLE. 

The historic old town of Barnstable made no extensive 
arrangements to commemorate the advent of the centennial 
year; but, when the supreme moment came, the church-bell 
was rung, the old gun fired, the public buildings and numer- 
ous private houses were illuminated, and the streets were 
alive with enthusiasm. 

There is good reason why our citizens should thus honor 
the occasion. It was here the patriot James Otis was born, — 
here upon Meeting-house Hill, where the first troops were 
raised upon the news being received of the declaration of 
war with England. Every thing relating to the early history 
of this section of the Old Colony will be found interesting. 
Plymouth has at last conceded tliat at Provincetown, Cape 
Cod, was the first landing from "The Mayflower" of our 
Pilgrim Fathers ; there the first germ of civil government was 
enacted; there the first Governor was elected, and the first 
child was born ; and, as Professor Palfrey said in his eloquent 
address at the second centennial celebration at Barnstable in 
1839, " For who is there that has not blood in his veins from 
this our copious Barnstable fountain ? " And the occasion 
leads me to refer to the address of Mr. Palfrey, because it 
was so full of historical facts. 

As early as July, 1621, Barnstable Harbor was visited by 
a party of ten men from Plymouth, in a shallop commanded 
by Miles Standish. There were some English settlers here 
as early as 1638 : Thomas Dimmock at that time was ap- 
pointed to exercise people in arms; and the llev. John 



50 BIOGRAPniCAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 

Lotbrop emigrated from Scituate, arriving here in October, 
1639. JMr. Lothrop died Nov. 8, 1653. By his will, he gave 
his wife, Mr. Palfrey tells us, one house in Barnstable, 
to his son Thomas another ; and to his sons John in Eng- 
land, and Benjamin here, eacb a cow and five pounds ; 
" Daughters Jane and Barbara," he says, " having had their 
portion already." 

The Colonists were not common men, and they did not 
despair. All seemed against them ; but they bad stout 
English hearts and stout yeoman's hands, and the protection 
of the availing prayers that went up from pious homes. At 
length, by the blessing of the God of hosts, they triumphed. 
But it was a triumph won at almost intolerable cost. Barn- 
stable alwaj'-s bore her full share of the deeds and sufferings 
of those days. As early as the spring of 1676, she was 
called on for one-tenth part, and her share of the disburse- 
ments of one j)eriod of the war is found to have been ex- 
ceeded by only two other towns. At the time of the annex- 
ation of Plymouth to Massachusetts, Thomas Hinckley of 
Barnstable was governor of the former colony. He was a 
native of England, where he was born in the year 1618. 
He lived and died in the house which stood opposite to the 
dwelling of the late Mr. Jabez Nye. 

Two ministries of Rev. Mr. Russell and INIr. Shaw covered 
the term of a complete century, within five y-ars. Rev. 
Joseph Green of the East Parish died Oct. 4, 1770, and was 
succeeded April 10, 1771, by Rev. Timothy Hilliard, who 
after twelve years' service asked for his dismissal, and ended 
his days as minister of the church in Cambridge. Within 
the limits referred to, a son of Barnstable had done a work 
and attained a glory scarcely equalled by any great name of 
the American continent. On the 5th of February, 1725, in 
a farm-house at Great Marshes, was born the pioneer of the 
American Revolution, James Otis. As long as the question 
shall be asked, " Whose ardent steps pressed on foremost 
in that front rank in the great action of American Independ- 
ence ? whose burning eloquence fanned the flame in this 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 51 

nation's bosom, which never expires until the right is won, 
or till there is no more martyr's blood to flow ? " history, 
as Mr. Palfrey so beautifully says, will have to re^yly, " That 
illustrious instrument was the Barnstable boy whom I have 
named." His individual greatness came not the less natur- 
ally for being attached to a long Barnstable ancestral line. 

The family from which he sprang was of ancient consid- 
eration in our town. John Otis, whose grandfather of the 
same name had emigrated from England to this country and 
become one of the first settlers of Hingham, was born in that 
place in the year 1657, and removed when a young man to 
Barnstable, where he lived to attain the age of seventy years, 
having for twenty years represented the town in the General 
Court. His son James, commonly spoken of as Col. Otis, 
born on the paternal estate in 1702, were not his fame 
eclipsed b}'- that of his greater son, would fill a larger place 
in history than he now does. 

The great question which came to involve all that was 
at issue between the mother country and the colonies was, 
whether general search-warrants, called writs of assistance^ 
might legally be granted to officers of the customs, to give 
them admittance to suspected houses ; it was powerfully 
argued in the negative by Otis. What belongs to history 
is the effect produced. " Otis," said President Adams the 
elder, who was one of the delighted hearers, " was a flame of 
fire." With a promptitude of classical allusions, a depth of 
research, a rapid summary of historical events and dates, 
and a rapid torrent of impetuous eloquence, he hurried away 
all before him. American Independence was then and there 
horn. In 1776 he grew up to manhood, and declared himself 
free. The same venerable witness testified on another occa- 
sion : " I do say, in the most solemn manner, that Mr. Otis's 
oration against writs of assistance breathed into this nation 
the breath of life." In reference to his services, some one 
has said that "No spot in the country has made such a gift 
to the country as the spot called Great Marshes in Barn- 
stable." 



52 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 

There are many events which cany us back to the heroic 
age of the nation. Among them was the impression made here 
by the first news of the Lexington fight. Deacon Phinney 
says, "Thursday, the 20th of April, was received the news of 
the engagement between the Regulars and Provincials." On 
the 21st, he says soldiers were mustered, and nineteen were 
sent off, and adds tliat he believes these nineteen stout Barn- 
stable farmers "reported themselves at Gen. Ward's head- 
quarters at Cambridge as soon as Nature's vehicles could 
bring them there." On Saturday, the old muskets of the 
French war had been cleaned, the flints and cartridge-boxes 
looked to, and blankets folded in the compact knapsacks by 
the loving care of trembling hands. 

Tuesday, the 25th of April, was town-meeting, to raise 
money to buy guns, when three hundred pounds was voted 
for a chest of arms and some ammunition. This will furnish 
some idea of the state of mind in Barnstable at the begin- 
ning of the Revolution. Money was liberally raised from 
time to time to increase the bounty offered by the Common- 
wealth for enlistments in the Continental service. The 
naval war of the Revolution was, in a great measure, carried 
on by private armed vessels. This is shown by the fact that 
when the ill-fated privateer, the " Arnold," Capt. Magee, 
which sailed on the 30th of December, 1778, from Boston, 
went on shore at Plymouth the same night, in a snowstorm, 
out of sixty-eight men of her company who perished, ten 
we'^e from Barnstable. 

I will close by making only a slight reference furtlier to 
the second centennial at Barnstable, which was so full of 
interest. It is painful to notice the many changes which 
so few years have wrought. Your Boston readers, where 
there are so many of the descendants of Barnstable, will 
scarcely credit the account that so many of their number 
who took part with us in September, 1839, are no longer 
among the living. I am induced to furnish you with the 
names of some of the public men of that day who were in 
Barnstable. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. PHINNET. 53 

The orator of the occasion was Professor John G. Palfrey ; 
Marshal, Henry Crocker ; Toastmaster and Toast Committee, 
B. F. Hallett, Henrj^ Crocker, Joshua Sears, and John L. 
Dimmock ; others of the Managing Committee were Wil- 
liam Sturgis, Francis Bacon, George Hallett, Thomas Gray, 
Adolphus Davis, Horace Scudder, Rohert Bacon, Benjamin 
Rich, Benjamin Bangs, Benjamin Burgess, Matthew Cobb, 
Prince Hawes, Daniel C. Bacon, and Thomas Thatcher. 
Judge Nymphas Marston was President of the day. Gov. 
Everett responded to the toast, " Plymouth and Massachu- 
setts Colonies," and charmed his hearers in his happiest 
strain. His address at this time has often been spoken of 
as one of his most eloquent. 

Then followed, in a deeply affecting manner. Chief- Justice 
Shaw, to the toast, " Cape Cod ; " Hon. William Sturgis, to 
the " Emigrants from Cape Cod." The remarks of Mr. 
Sturgis were followed by a neat original Yankee song on the 
towns and names of the Cape. Hon. Robert C. Winthrop, 
then Speaker of the House of Representatives, responded to 
the toast of " The younger V/inthrop of Connecticut." 
"The New England Guards" was responded to by Capt. 
Bigelow, who many years since occupied the bench so 
worthily as our chief justice. 

Toasts were also responded to by other distinguished 
gentlemen. Ex-Gov. John Henry Clifford, then one of Gov. 
Everett's aides, gave : " Cape Cod. Her pine trees once fur- 
nished to Massachusetts the device for lier flag. She has 
retained the prouder distinction of furnishing through all 
history the truest hearts and the stoutest arms by which 
the flag has been defended." To the " West Barnstable 
Church," Uriah Crocker of Boston. These were followed by 
toasts by Prince Hawes, Henry Crocker, Joseph A. Davis, 
S. B. Phinney, Adolphus Davis, and innumerable other 
citizens of Cape Cod. 

Interestiiig letters were read from Judge Mellen of Maine, 
Hon. Harrison Gray Otis of Boston, Hon. Judge Dewey, 
George Hull; George Bancroft, Collector of Boston; Josiah 



54 BIOGRAPniCAL SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. PHINNEY. 

Quincy, President of Harvard College ; David Wilder, Treas- 
urer of the Commonwealth ; and John T. Bigelow, Secretary 
of the State. So much we take pride, as the sons and 
daughters of Barnstable, in referring to as we enter uj)on the 
centennial of 1876. 

By one who has taken part in very much that has trans- 
pired since the war of 1812. 

S. B. PHINNEY. 

Baknstable, Jau. 4, 1876. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. PHINNEY. 55 



SPEECH OF MAJOR PHINNEY 

AT THE SEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE OPENING 
OF FANEUIL HALL MARKET, AUG. 2G, 1876. 

I THANK you, Mr. Chairman, in behalf of your committee, 
for the cordial invitation to be present at this fiftieth anni- 
versary of the opening of Faneuil Hall Market. In response 
to your call, I shall speak but briefly of what was transpiring 
under my own eye, while a resident of Boston, between the 
years 1823 and 1829. The events of that day are full of 
interest ; and while yourself, Mr. Chairman, Nathan Robbins, 
Ebenezer Holden, and Harrison Bird are the only surviving 
original occupants of the market, it became my duty, as a 
printer on one of the leading journals of that day, to take 
note of what was transpiring, and we are here to verify the 
fact that the stalls were well -filled with the best products of 
the fields, orchards, gardens, and cattle-maikets of the rural 
districts. Josiah Quincy was a constant visitor at the office 
of the " Daily Advertiser " (where the first few years of 
my boyhood were pleasantly occupied), in conference with 
Nathan Hale upon great leading questions of that daj'; and 
none excited more attention than the building of the Faneuil 
Hall Market, and the series of articles which appeared in the 
columns of that paper upon the subject of railroads. Neither 
steamboats nor railroads had then entered Boston. Mr. Hale 
had upon the table in his sanctum a miniature railroad, which 
he took pride in exhibiting to your mayor and the merchants 
of Boston, explaining the manner in which he believed they 
might be made useful in the conveyance of heavy burthens 
over the country, by horse-power, providing that steam-power 



56 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 

could not be successfully applied. Business men were in- 
credulous, and did not believe they could be successfully 
used as a means of public transportation. One of his friends, 
a prominent merchant and capitalist, was led to remark 
that '• he thought it unfortunate that a man of such superior 
intelligence as Nathan Hale should be engaged in such hum- 
bugs ! " 

The City Government finally became interested ; although 
it was not until 18:i9, when the Council voted to send fifty- 
five members to the Legislature, having in view the con- 
struction of a railroad, and a rousing meeting was held in 
Faneuil Hall, when it was resolved that it was, in the opinion 
of Boston, important for this Commonwealth to construct a 
railroad from Boston to the western line of the State, and 
from Boston to Providence, the City Government to obtain 
an Act to lake the stock to build to WovcQ^iev^ providing the 
State did not umnt the whole ! 

The Legislature granted the charter to Worcester ; and 
with a State tax of seventy-five thousand dollars, and its other 
resources, it was believed the State debt would be discharged 
in a few years. The keynote was then struck, and the capi- 
talists of our country from that day to the present have been 
making rapid strides. Even Cape Cod has been admirably 
provided for, and your citizens can now take the Old Colony 
Railroad to Provincetown Harbor, within a few rods of the 
anchorage of " The Mayflower " in 1620 having on board our 
Pilgrim Fathers. 

But let me say, Mr. Chairman, that Cape Cod was having 
her influence at the Hub fifty years ago. Following Mayor 
Quincy, was the election of Harrison Gray Otis as mayor of 
Boston in 1828. Mr. Otis's immediate ancestors were resi- 
dents of Barnstable, where he resided during the siege of 
Boston, and he was there when the news reached Barnstable 
of the conflagration of Charlestown. He did not forget to 
speak, while mayor, of the sensation of that town in that dis- 
mal hour ; and believed, from impressions then made, that 
every man capable of bearing arms was ready to rush to 
death in defence of his country. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNE7. 57 

Boston is distinguished for her excellent mayors ; and it is 
not uncommon to find them claiming that the blood of our 
Puritan fathers is still running in their veins. Gov. Everett, 
when on a visit to Barnstable, at the centennial in 1839, 
was gratified to find that his great-great-grandmother was 
born in the nearest adjoining county. Many of the ablest 
and best men in Boston emigrated from Cape Cod, and 
began their career here in humble life. Let me name some 
of those who were then taking an active part in every thing 
that pertained to the growth and prosperity of your city. 
Among the number were Chief-Justice Shaw, Professor John 
G. Palfrey, Francis Bassett, B. F. Hallett, Prince Hawes, 
George Hallett, Joshua Sears, Thomas Thatcher, David Sears, 
Daniel C. Bacon, William Sturgis, Francis Bacon, Alpheus 
Hardy, John L. Dimmock, Isaac Thatcher, Thomas Gray, 
David Snow, Isaac Rich, Benjamin Burgess, Horace Scudder, 
and later the Davises, Bangs, Bakers, Bearses, Nickersons, 
Crowells, Crockers, Cobbs, and innumerable others, — an 
emigration sufficient of itself to swamp any other section of 
the country except Cape Cod. They became a power suf- 
ficient to elect governors, and, if need be, to help on the 
industries of Boston, even to take their mayor from the right 
arm of the Old Bay State. Excuse my wandering, Mr. 
Chairman. I will close by giving you : — 

" Boston : God bless her ! 

*' Where'er I roam, whatever realms to see, 
My heart, untrammelled, fondly turns to thee." 



58 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 



THE FIRST CUNARD STEAMER. 

THE BARNSTABLE CENTENNIAL, AND ITS EXAMPLE. 

Barnstable, Mass., July 21, 1880. 

Since my communication to the " Post " of last week, relat- 
ing to some of the events that were transpiring in Barnstable 
and Boston fifty years ago, some of the city papers have 
thought proper go back forty years to notice the arrival of 
one of the Cunard Line of steamers on the 3d of June, 1840. 
The arrival of the steamer " Unicorn," commanded by Capt. 
Douglass, was an event of more than ordinary interest ; and 
it was believed that the guns of the cutter " Hamilton," 
Capt. Josiah Sturgis, who saluted the steamer upon her 
arrival, were heard at Barnstable. The papers brought by 
her informed us that the difficulty between England and 
Naples had been settled, that the French had made prep- 
arations for removing Napoleon's bones from St. Helena, and 
that the Russian army had experienced new disasters in Cir- 
cassia, while the French had gained a victory in Africa, etc. 
The whole country was delighted that Boston had been 
enabled to open steam communication with Europe, and that 
we should no longer be required to wait the receipt of foreign 
news by the arrival of sailing vessels, varying from thirty- 
five to fortj^-five days. The delight and enthusiasm were 
universal, as was evinced at the large gathering at the dinner 
given to Mr. Cunard, one of the proprietors of the steamer, 
It may not be known to all your readers, that at this ban- 
quet ladies were permitted to join in the festivity. But 
the citizens of Boston took this occasion to follow the exam- 
ple set them at the centennial celebration at Barnstable on 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 59 

the 3cl of September previous. During the summer of 1889, 
a committee was chosen from this place, consisting of David 
Crocker, S. B. Phinney, and Zenas D. Bassett, to confer with 
William Sturgis, John L. Dim mock, and Joshua Sears, in 
Boston, to make the necessary arrangements for celebrating 
the centennial at Barnstable and the erecting of a pavilion to 
accommodate at least twelve hundred persons to the dinner. 
Capt. Sturgis declined to take part in the celebration, or to 
act with the committee, unless arrangements were made for 
ladies to dine with the company, and to join in all the fes- 
tivities proper for the occasion. He believed the ladies had 
a common interest in the celebration, and that they should 
share in all or none. If they were excluded from the dinner- 
table, they might with propriety let the gentlemen dance 
alone, and then retire alone and indulge in " sweet or bitter 
fancies, as they may chance to come." He specially desired 
that it might first be tried at the banquet at Barnstable, and 
let the motto from one end of the Union to the other be, 
" Dine together and dance together, or dine alone and dance 
alone." It is enough to say that this recommendation was 
adopted unanimously by the committee, and more than four 
hundred ladies, for the first time in the history of our Gov- 
ernment, partook of a public dinner at Barnstable. It 
proved, as Gov. Everett at that time took occasion to say, 
one of the most interesting occasions it had ever been his 
pleasure to attend. Capt. Sturgis was gratified with the 
result, and closed his remarks at the table with the following 
lines: — 

" The world was sad, the garden was a wild, 
And mau the hermit sighed, till woman smiled." 

This section of the State felt proud that the citizens of 
Boston, at tlie Cunard dinner, should so soon have followed 
the example set them by this town. Daniel Webster, George 
Bancroft, and other eminent men spoke eloquently. It in- 
spired them to be surrounded by so large a number of ladies 
as were present on this occasion ; and we remember that 



60 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET. 

Mr. Bancroft, among other beautiful things, said it seemed to 
him that the introduction of steam had brought the Old 
Country and the New so near together, that some quiet morn- 
ing, on listening upon our shores, the busy hum of the artisan 
might be distinctly heard upon the other side of the waters. 
I have had occasion before to speak of the large draught 
that has been made on the capital and enterprise of Cape 
Cod ; and it would not have been any injury to Boston, 
perhaps, if she had more frequently followed the example 
set her by this Puritanic section of the Old Colony. 

S. B. PHINNEY. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 61 



MONUMENT AT PROVINCETOWN, CAPE COD. 

FIRST LANDING OF THE PILGRIMS. 

At the annual meeting of the Cape Cod Association, held 
in Boston in November, 1877, upon motion of Major S. B. 
Phinney of Barnstable, a committee of three was appointed 
to consider the feasibility of erecting a monument in honor 
of the first landing of the Pilgrims in Provincetown, on 
the 11th of November, 1620. The meeting believed that 
Plymouth had enjoyed the honor and the glory long enough, 
and that history should be set right by erecting a monument 
at Provincetown, Cape Cod, where not only the first landing 
was made, but where the first germ of civil and religious 
liberty was planted, Hon. Alpheus Hardy and Major Henry 
C. Brooks of Boston, and S. B. Phinney of Barnstable, were 
appointed on that committee. At the suggestion of members 
of the Association, Major Phinney afterwards caused to be 
draughted by a skilful architect a plan of a monument, which 
is now in his hands. It was designed to be of stone, some 
seventy feet in height, and containing about eleven feet 
space inside to admit of a stairway to a room in the tower 
to answer the purpose of a lookout for pilots and others, and 
a lighted clock that may be seen by vessels at night in any 
part of our harbor. It was also intended that a storm signal 
should be connected with it. Since that time, the General 
Government has established a signal at the point originally 
contemplated by the committee. They then procured of one 
of the most extensive stone-builders in Boston an estimate of 
the cost of constructing a monument from the plan sub- 
mitted. Its cost was considered reasonable ; and with a view 



62 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. PHINNET. 

of getting our citizens interested, the whole was submitted 
to a committee for further consideration. 

It was found that the Association had no funds that could 
be set aside especially for this purpose, but its members 
believed that when earnest efforts were made by citizens of 
the town and others, they could do much, individually, in 
aiding to build it. 

For the completion of the monument erected at Plymouth 
in honor of the Pilgrims, the State Legislature appropriated 
810,000, and the members of the same body considered that 
an example had been set for appropriating a suitable sum for 
a similar purpose at Provincetown, when needed. The Cape 
Cod Association has not forgotten the efforts of Chief Justice 
Shaw and others in causing to be placed on the Town Hall a 
suitable slab to commemorate the event, and there is good 
reason to hope that a conference will soon be had, and such 
a movement made by the committee as will guarantee its 
success. It would certainly seem that the proposition of the 
Cape Cod Association should be met, and that we should do 
our part toward erecting this memorial shaft. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 63 



THE FIRST LANDING OF THE PILGRIMS. 

So much interest had been manifested in the movement 
to erect a monument in commemoration of the first landing of 
the Pilgrims at Provincetown, Cape Cod, that Major Phinney 
furnished the Yarmouth " Register," in March, 1878, a com- 
munication relating to the arrival of the " Mayflower," as 
follows : — 

MONUMENT TO THE PILGRIMS. 

At the annual meeting of the Cape Cod Association, at 
Boston, it was voted that a committee be appointed to con- 
sider the feasibility of erecting a suitable monument on High 
Pole Hill, Provincetown, to commemorate the first landing 
of the Pilgrims at that place, Nov. 11, 1620. Since the 
burning of the Town Hall at Provincetown, and the destruc- 
tion of the marble slab placed there through the efforts of 
Chief-Justice Shaw of Boston, nothing is left to commem- 
orate the event ; and as it was at Provincetown the first 
landing was made, it is important that the sons and daughters 
of Cape Cod should see that a suitable monument is erected 
to their memory. The movement which has been inaugurated 
by the Cape Cod Association, and at a public meeting of the 
citizens of Provincetown, is a guaranty that it will be 
accomplished. 

There is so much connected with the first landing after 
the arrival of the " Mayflower " in Provincetown Harbor, of 
a local as well as of a more public character, that a sketch at 
this time will be found interesting, especially of their visit to 
the shores of several of the towns in Barnstable County, 
before any landing was made by the Pilgrims at Plymouth. 



64 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 

As history informs us, the final dpparture of the " jSIay- 
flower " from England was on the 6th of September, 1620; 
and after several boisterous storms, they fell in with the land 
called Cape Cod, Nov. 9, and reached the harbor of Province- 
town Nov. 11. This was the first spot on the New-England 
coast ever pressed by the footsteps of Englishmen, having 
been discovered by Gosnold in May, 1602, who gave it the 
name on account of the abundance of cod which he caught 
in its neighborhood. 

" Let us go in the imagination," said Gov. Everett, " and 
look out upon this November scene. That single dark speck, 
just discernible tlirough the perspective glass on the waste 
of waters, is the fated vessel. The storm moans through her 
tattered canvas, as she creeps, almost sinking, to her anchor- 
age in Provincetown Harbor : and there she lies, with all her 
treasures, — not of silver and gold (for of these she has none), 
but of courage, of patience, of zeal, of high spiritual daring. 
So often as I dwell in imagination on this scene, — when I 
consider the condition of the ' Mayflower,' utterly incapable 
as she was of living through another gale ; when I survey 
the terrible front presented by our coast to the navigator, 
who, unacquainted with its channels and roadsteads, should 
approach it in the stormy season, — I dare not call it a mere 
piece of good fortune that the general nortli-and-south wall of 
the shore of New England should be broken by this extraor- 
dinary projection of the Cape running out into the ocean a 
hundred miles, as if on purpose to receive and encircle the 
precious vessel. As I now see her, freighted with the des- 
tinies of a continent, barely escaped from the perils of the 
deep, approaching the shore precisely where the broad sweep 
of this most remarkable headland presented almost the only 
point at which for hundreds of miles she could, with any 
ease, have made a harbor, and this perhaps the very best ou 
the seaboard, I feel my spirit raised above the sphere of mere 
natural agencies. I see the mountains of New England 
rising from their rocky thrones. They rush forward into the 
ocean, settling down as they advance, and there they range 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. FHINNEY. 65 

themselves a mighty bulwark around the heaven-directed 
vessel. Yes, the everlasting God himself stretches out the 
arm of his mercy and his power in substantial manifestations, 
and gathers the meek company of his worshippers as in the 
hollow of his hand." 

This harbor is completely landlocked, and is known as one 
of the finest on the Atlantic coast. The " Mayflower " 
anchored within half a mile of the end of Long Point. 
Here the shore was found very bold, and the water deep. 
And, for the first time in the world's history, a social compact 
was realized in practice. Before they left Holland it was 
evident they expected " to become a body politic," using 
among themselves civil government, and to choose their own 
rulers, and, " on the 11th of November, in the year of our 
Sovereign Lord, King James of England, France, and Ire- 
land, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, Anno 
Domini, 1620," one hundred and one of the passengers of the 
"Mayflower" prefixed their names to this compact, just that 
number having sailed from Plymouth, England. On this 
day they chose John Carver their governor for the first year. 
The same day they set ashore some fifteen or sixteen men, 
well armed, to obtain some wood (as they were out), and also 
to see what the land was. The men appear to have been 
landed on Long Point. It was tolerably well wooded with 
oaks, pines, birch, juniper, etc. They returned on board at 
night, without finding any person or habitation, having 
loaded their boat with juniper. 

On Monday the 13th, they tell us, they went on shore to 
refresh themselves, and the women to wash. On the 15th, 
sixteen men set out in single file, with caution, every man 
with his musket, sword, and corslet, under command of 
Capt. Miles Standish. They marched about a mile by the 
sea, and espied five or six people, with a dog, coming towards 
them : these proved to be savages. When they saw them 
they ran into the woods, and whistled their dog after them. 
When the Indians saw the Pilgrims, they ran away. They 
were followed by their footprints about ten miles. The next 



66 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. PHINNEY. 

morning they could see their trace, and pursued thera until 
they came to a creek; but they marched through boughs and 
bushes without meeting them. As they had taken " neither 
beer nor water with them, and only a few biscuit and Holland 
cheese and a little aquavitcB," they were getting hungry and 
thirsty. They saw a deer, and came to a spring of water ; 
and when they had refreshed themselves, they went to the 
shore, and made a fire, that they might be seen from the ship. 

In this vicinity, which is a portion of Truro, they found 
fowl and deer, with a clear pond of fresh water. Here, too, 
they found corn which had been planted by the Indians. 
They went on farther, and found new stubble of which they 
had gotten corn this year, and walnut-trees full of nuts. And 
they found where a house had been, and four or five planks 
laid together, and a ship's kettle which had evidently come 
from Europe. They found also, by digging, a great new 
basket full of Indian corn. It held three or four bushels. 
They were in suspense what to do with it, but at length con- 
cluded to take the kettle and as much of the corn as they 
could carry away. Some time during the next year, the corn, 
if not the kettle, was restored to the Indians. They saw 
two canoes upon the shore, but returned that night back to 
the fresh-water pond, making a great fire. In the morning, 
they sunk their kettle in the pond, and trimmed their mus- 
kets, and, in their attempts to return to their vessel, lost their 
way. They marched some time in the woods, and at times 
in water up to their knees, until they came near to their ship. 
By shooting off their muskets, a boat was sent to the shore 
for them. They returned weary, and delivered their corn to 
be kept for seed. The weather became suddenly cold and 
stormy, and brought to many colds and coughs, turning to 
scurvy, and causing many to die. 

On the 27th of November, they again set out in their 
shallop with thirty-four men. The weather was boisterous, 
and they rowed to the shore, making but little headway, and 
landed at East Harbor for the night. It snowed and blowed 
hard that night ; and some that afterwards died, it is said, 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 67 

took their death here. The next day they sailed to the river, 
now known as Pamet River in Truro. They Landed a part 
of their men, and marched some four miles : the shallop fol- 
lowed them. The next morning they got to the head of 
Pamet River; here they found the corn they left behind 
them when they were there before. They digged a little 
farther off, and found a bottle of oil, Indian wheat, and a bag 
of beans : they found in all about ten bushels of corn, which 
was considered sufficient for seed. This they considered a 
part of God's providence, else they knew not what they 
should have done, as they thought they never would have 
seen a grain of it, except for their first journey to this place. 
A portion of their people went home with the corn (some 
that were sick), and the shallop was returned to them the 
next day. 

The next morning they came upon a broad and beaten 
path, but it did not lead to the dwellings of the Indians as 
they expected. They marched five or six miles farther on, 
but could see no signs of people. They came to a place not 
bigger than a grave ; and, digging, they found under, planks 
and matting, a bundle of perfect fine red powder, and the 
bones and skull of a man ; other articles were bound up in 
a sailor's canvas cassock and a pair of cloth breeches. An- 
other bundle was found, the same kind of powder in it, and 
the bones and head of a little child. About the legs and other 
parts of the child were found strings and bracelets of fine 
white beads. They covered the corpse up again, taking 
away a few things with them. While ranging, two of the 
sailors by chance saw two houses which had been recently 
occupied. 

They entered the houses, and took out some things, but 
dare not stay. The houses were made of sapling trees 
bended, both ends stuck into the gr(|und, with wrought mats, 
the door made of a mat to open. The chimney was a wide 
open hole ; in the top they had a mat to close this with when 
they pleased : they could stand erect in them. About the 
fire, they lay on mats. They found here wooden bowls, trays 



68 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNE7. 

and dishes, pots, baskets made of shell, also an English pail 
or bucket : it had two iron ears, but no bail. There were 
curiously wrought baskets and sundry other household stuff: 
deer's heads recently killed, eagle's claws, baskets of parched 
acorns, pieces of fish and of broiled herring. Some tobacco- 
seed were also found, and other seeds unknown, with bundles 
of flags, sage, bulrushes, and other materials to make mats. 
The meaner wigwams were covered with mats made of bul- 
rushes. Some of the articles found here were taken away. 
Afterwards, Young's History informs us, full satisfaction was 
given the Indians. 

Some of the party were inclined to abide at this place, as it 
had a convenient harbor for boats, and because it had corn- 
ground ready for planting, and because Cape Cod was likely to 
furnish good fishing ; and they had seen, before entering Prov- 
incetown Harbor, several whales that in pleasant weather 
would swim and play about them. These would furnish them 
the best kind of oil and bone. But finally a company was 
chosen to go out upon another discovery. Whilst some were 
employed in this discovery, Mistress White was brought to 
bed of a son. He was born on board the " Mayflower," and 
called Peregrine, and was the first child born of English 
parents in New England. He lived for many years in 
Plymouth County, and died in Marshfield, aged eighty-three 
years. 

Wednesday, the 6th of December, it was resolved that 
further explorations should be made ; and they again set 
forth for that purpose. Capt. Standish, Master Carver, 
William Bradford, Edward Winslow, John Tilly, John How- 
land, Richard Warren, Stephen Hopkins, and Edward 
Dotee, and two seamen — John Alderton and Thomas 
English — were of the party. The weather was exceedingly 
cold, and it was a long time after they left the ship before they 
could get clear of Sandy Point, — the end of Long Point. 
The weather was so boisterous, that two of their number 
became very sick. At length they got clear of this point by 
hard rowing, and got their sails up, and followed the shore 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. FHINNEY. 69 

for a long distance, until they came to what is now known 
as Billingsgate Point in Wellfleet. As they drew near the 
shore in Eastham, they saw ten or twelve Indians. They saw 
the smoke of the fire which the savages made that night, 
four or five miles from them. 

On the morning of the 7th they divided their company, 
— eight in the shallop, the rest on the shore. They found 
this nearly as good a harbor as Cape Cod, for a ship might 
ride in five fathoms ; and the land was level, though not very 
rich. Those on board the shallop found nothing encour- 
aging, and returned. They saw that the Indians had struck 
into the woods, by the side of a pond in Eastham. Here 
they found corn had been planted that year, and the houses 
of the Indians recently occupied ; but there was nothing left 
but two or three pieces of old mats, and a little sedge. They 
espied before nightfall several Indians, whom they called, to 
them. They proved to be friendly, and glad to see them. 

On the morning of the 8th, after prayers, they tried their 
muskets, and prepared for breakfast and a journey. Before 
they got away, however, the Indians fired their arrows 
among them. Capt. Miles Standish, having a musket with a 
flint-lock, made a shot; after him, one or two others. The 
arrows were fired by Indians behind trees. One of them 
stood three shots of a musket, and after an extraordinary 
yell they all went away. They were followed some distance 
with the firing of muskets, that they might know they were 
not afraid of them. By the noise, it was thought there 
were not less than thirty or forty of them. 

After they had given God thanks for their deliverance, 
they took their shallop, and went on their journey. Having 
a good wind, they sailed all that day, but saw neither creek 
nor river to put into. The distance along the coast from 
Eastham to the high bluif at Monument in Plymouth is 
about forty miles. They encountered a snowstorm an hour 
or two after they left Eastham, which prevented their seeing 
Sandy Neck, the entrance to Barnstable Harbor. If it had 
not been for this, it is highly probable they would have 



70 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET. 

entered this harbor, and made their settlement there. In 
this case Barnstable would have been the Plymouth ! In the 
afternoon the wind increased, and, the sea being very rough, 
the hinges of the rudder broke, and it was with difficulty 
that the use of two oars would serve their purpose. Master 
Coppin bade them be of good cheer, for, although near night, 
he saw a harbor. It was the cove between the Gurnet and 
Saquish Points, at the entrance of Plymouth Harbor. They 
tell us that it pleased a Divine Providence that they fell 
upon this place, where their shallop rode safe and secure that 
night. 

On the morning of the 10th of December, Saturday, they 
landed and marched about upon what is known as Clark's 
Island, just within the entrance of Plymouth Harbor, and so 
called after the mate of the " Mayflower." They made a 
rendezvous here for the day, but found no inhabitants. The 
following day, Sunday, they rested ; and on Monday sounded 
the harbor, and found it good for shipping. They then 
marched into the land, and found cornfields and running 
brooks, and otherwise presenting a favorable appearance ; and 
retirrned to the "Mayflower" with good news to the rest 
of their company. This is the ever-memorable day of the 
landing of the fathers at Plymouth. 

This was comforting news to the Pilgrims. The}" left the 
"Mayflower" in Cape Cod Harbor, the 6th, were three days 
getting to Clark's Island in Plymouth Harbor, and started 
on their return to the ship about the 13th, and, going across 
the bay, reached her on the 11th. They found that the day 
after their leaving the vessel, Dorothy, the wife of William 
Bradford, who was one of the party in the shallop, fell over- 
board and was drowned. 

Young's Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers informs us 
that on the fifteenth day of December, they weighed anchor 
in Provincetown Harbor, to go to the place they had dis- 
covered. They did not get across the bay until Saturday 
the 16th, when they got safely into harbor. INIonday the 
18th, they landed upon Clark's Island, which is the only 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET. 71 

island in Plymouth Harbor. They landed in the "long 
boat," manned with the master of the ship and three or four 
of the sailors. They went along the coast seven or eight 
miles, saw no Indians, but found where they had planted 
corn. That night, becoming weary, they went on board 
again. 

The next morning being Tuesday, the 19th of December, 
some went on land, and some in the shallop, to make further 
discoveries. They found at the place visited the day before, 
some three miles up, a very pleasant river. At full sea they 
found that a bark of thirty tons might go up, but at low 
water it was with difficulty they could go up in their shallop. 
They took a liking to this place, and thought it best to 
remain until they had more strength. That night they re- 
turned on shipboard with resolution the next morning to 
settle on some of the places about Plymouth Harbor. 

So in the morning, Dec. 20, after calling on God for 
direction, they came to the resolution to go ashore again, and 
take another view of two places. After landing (believed 
this day to be on Plymouth Rock), they came to the conclu- 
sion to settle on high ground (which is on a hill facing the 
harbor). From thence they could see far into the sea and 
Cape Cod. In a clear day the white sand-hills of Province- 
town may be distinctly seen from this hill. So there they 
made their rendezvous for their people, and about twenty the 
next morning concluded to go ashore and build houses. 

But Thursday morning, the 21st, was stormy and wet, and 
they could not land. It was with difficulty that those 
remaining on the shore could keep dry. About eleven 
o'clock, the shallop went ashore with provisions, but could not 
return, the gale was so strong ; and the " Mayflower " was 
compelled to ride with three anchors ahead. 

House-lots were finally laid out for nineteen families, not 
on the hill, but in front of it on Leyden Street. Not until 
January did they commence their labor of building their 
houses. It was agreed that every man should build his own 
house. They had to make mortar, gather thatch, and during 



72 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET. 

the month Edward Winslow says " they had completed seven 
dwelling-houses." On the 17th of February, on account of 
anticipated troubles with the Indians, they called a meeting 
for establishing military orders, and chose Miles Standish 
commander. During this month seventeen of their number 
died. It was not until the 22d of March, 1621, that all of the 
passengers were landed at Plymouth from the " Mayflower," 
when the weather had become fair and warm. During the 
month of March thirteen more of their number died ; and in 
all, during the three months previous, one-half of their com- 
pany had perished, the greater part in the depth of winter 
and for want of houses and other comforts ; at times two or 
three died a day. The scurvy fell among the sailors, and 
almost half of their number died before they sailed. But 
spring finally came, and it put new life into the people, 
though they bore their sad affliction with great patience ; and 
on the fifth day of April, 1621, the " Mayflower " sailed from 
Plymouth, and arrived in England the sixth day of May. 
It is worthy of notice, that notwithstanding the hardships, 
privations, and mortality among the Pilgrims after their 
arrival at Provincetown the 9th of November, during the 
winter months not one of them was induced to abandon the 
enterprise and return home in the " Mayflower." 



CAPE COD. 

At the anniversary dinner at Faneuil Hall of the Ancient 
and Honorable Artillery Company, the president proposed 
a sentiment to : " Cape Cod. May its sands never run out," 
and called upon Major Phinney of Barnstable to respond. 

He said he accepted the invitation to be present at the two 
hundred and thirty-seventh anniversary, with more than usual 
pleasure, that he might renew his thanks to this vahant corps for 
the valuable services it rendered Cape Cod in the " da^'s that tried 
men's souls." Early in the war of the Rebellion the Barnstable 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNE7. <3 

Count}' Aoricultural Society' invited the Ancient and Ilonorable 
Artilleiy Company to do escort duty to the Governor, because of 
their true patriotic spirit ; and we were made more than happy 
when Gen. Tyler reported himself at Barnstable early on the 
morning of the fair with good two hundred strong. The sensation 
it produced in our quiet little village has not been forgotten. At 
the sound of the bugle every man proved himself prompt and 
courageous at the dining-hall, and the ladies complimented them 
for the grace and dignity of their movements at the dance. The 
presentation of a service of plate was then made to one of your 
distinguished members at Masonic Hall, which was crowded to its 
utmost capacit}'. One of the antiquarians of j'our corps, more 
brilliant than the rest, had discovered, after a diligent research of 
the Old Colony records, that its members were lineal descendants 
of old Barnstable. Those he believed who were not of direct 
genealog}', and could not claim that the}" were born on Cape Cod, 
it was found that their immediate ancestors were from old PJy- 
mouth in the vicinity of Hull ! When our venerable guests took 
up their line of march, it was to the tune of " The girl I left 
behind me." 

Let me allude to the fact, Mr. Commander, that in 1638, onl}' 
seventeen years after the landing of our Pilgrim Fathers in Prov- 
incetown Harbor, the " Militar}' Company of JNIassachusetts," now 
known as the "Ancient and Honorable Artiller}'," received its 
charter from the Colonial Governor. From this was claimed its 
Old Colon}- origin, and now it remains for you to initiate the first 
step for erecting a monument to their memory. And let it be 
erected where the Pilgrims first landed, at Provincetown, Xov. 11, 
1620. The " Cape Cod Association " will join your command in 
inaugurating this important work. Shall it be done ? If so, we 
will here and now invite our Governor to aid us in laying the corner- 
stone, and report upon our doings at your next banquet in Faneuil 
Hall. I will close by offering the following sentiment : — 

" The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. Distin- 
guished for its martial spirit, its patriotism, and its love of liberty. 
It was the soul of such a corps that has infused itself throughout 
New England, and been so nobly transmitted, from father to sou 
for more than two centuries." 



74 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET. 



NEW-ENGLAND EXCURSIONISTS 

TO CALIFORNIA IN 1880. 

The Ordway ■excursion party to the Far West was 
absent over two months. It proved to be one of the most 
enjoyable parties. As it was without a correspondent, 
Major Phinney, at the request of the party, furnished the 
Boston " Journal " with several communications, during their 
absence. Among the number was the following : — 

CALIFORNIAN EXCURSIONISTS. 

Rexo, Nev., April 22, 1880. 

I COMMENCED a letter to the " Journal " at Laramie City, 
but had no opj)ortunity to complete it until the embargo at 
this place, of the excursionists of New England en route for 
California, has enabled me to do so. The party left Boston 
on the evening of the 12th inst., and comprised 1-35 ladies and 
gentlemen from Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Con- 
necticut, Rhode Island, — in fact, a New-England delegation, 
— bound to the Golden Gate. I will not attempt a descrip- 
tion of the beauties of the scenery along the route, to those 
who were making the trip for the first time ; it is enough to 
say that it was by many found perfectly wonderful. To 
many, sight-seeing began before we reached Chicago or Coun- 
cil Bluffs. The bridge across the Mississippi, to Omaha, is one 
of the wonders of the age. After leaving Chicago over the 
North-western Railway to Council Bluffs, we reach the Union 
Pacific Railway, which is everywhere recognized as one of 
the best-regulated institutions in this country. It has im- 



BIOGRAPniCAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET. 75 

portant lines radiating from Omaha, and reaching points in 
the West, North, and North-west. If I were about to describe 
routes of travel and railroads admirably managed, they would 
be those owned and operated largely by gentlemen of Massa- 
chusetts, who are among the largest capitalists and have dis- 
tinguished themselves as the most thorough business men 
that New England has produced. These gentlemen are well 
known to the readers of the " Journal." I cannot refrain, 
however, from mentioning the names of some of the most 
prominent, such as Elisha Atkins, vice-president of the Union 
Pacific, F. L. Ames, Ezra H. Baker, the Nickersons, who are 
often spoken of. And here I find myself among a large class 
of the business men of the West, who know how to appre- 
ciate the never-to-be-forgotten services of Oakes and Oliver 
Ames of Massachusetts. They have not forgotten the oft- 
repeated statement of a member of Congress, who was joined 
with Oakes Ames on the Railroad Committee, who said tliat 
the country owed to this gentleman the completion of the 
Pacific Railroad, ten years in advance of the time it could 
possibly have been constructed, except for his unceasing 
labors. Mr. Ames had large wealth and indomitable energy, 
and really believed it was possible to construct a new world. 
Congress had been hammering over the subject of the Pacific 
Railroad nearly three years when he was elected to Congress. 
As a member of the Railroad Committee, in his quiet busi- 
ness manner he had large influence, and told the committee 
that it was but right that Congress should appropriate money 
for this great public enterprise, and conceived it to be the 
duty of Congress to go where private enterprise would go ; 
that he was prepared to take 11,000,000 for the work, and 
would be responsible for as much more, believing that the 
business men of Boston were prepared to co-operate with 
him. 

His argument was sound and business-like, and Congress 
finally appropriated such amount of money as was thought 
necessary to complete the work. It is not necessary to say 
that no white man had crossed the Rocky Mountains at that 



76 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 

time (except it might be Gen. Fremont) ; and Congress, with 
all its wisdom, could make no estimate within millions of 
what was required to construct the road. If my memory- 
serves me aright, thirty thousand dollars a mile was appro- 
priated to the foot, and eighty thousand dollars for its con- 
struction over the mountains. The most skilful engineers 
had not been able to make any reliable estimate of its cost. 
Oakes Ames, however, persevered. He invested very much 
of his hard-earned fortune in this work, and entered into a 
contract of forty-three million dollars, not knowing whether 
he and his friends would become bankrupt before its comple- 
tion. To save themselves it was thought advisable to form 
a close compact, by enacting, what became a bugbear to poli- 
ticians, the law (passed in the State of Pennsylvania) known 
as the Credit Mobilier, Before the road was constructed it 
was found that Congress might have appropriated a few 
thousands less than it did. Those of the members who voted 
for it, and had taken sparingly of its stock and received 
the dividends claimed, were denounced all over the country 
(on the eve of important Congressional elections) as having 
knowingly swindled the Government. But if no other man 
living was proved to be strictly honest and conscientious, 
that man was Oakes Ames. As well might the country have 
abused Samuel Hooper and other members who voted for and 
favored our present national banking system, and subscribed 
largely to its stock. It is enough in this connection to say 
that history will place the memory of Oakes Ames aright. 
Here his labors are appreciated, and his friends will be grati- 
fied to know that the press and the people of the West are 
already agitating the question of the erection of a monument 
to the memory of both Oakes and Oliver Ames. This 
has had its origin among the pioneers of the West, largely 
composed of New England men, who believe that the " sum- 
mit of the mountains " at Sherman (named in honor of Gen. 
Sherman, the tallest General in the service), that is over 
eight thousand feet above the level of the sea, is the most 
desirable point. One of the pioneers of this movement is 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 77 

Col. C. W. Kitchen of Evanstown, Wyo., who is one of the 
wealthiest and most enterprising gentlemen of the State. 
The Desert House, of wliich he is proprietor, is along the line 
of the road, and is considered the Delmonico of this region. 
The dinner he furnished the Ord way party was equal to that 
furnished the New England Society at their gathering a few 
weeks since at New York. Gov. Head, Judge Sargent, and 
a host of gentlemen from Massachusetts were prompt to 
respond to a vote of thanks to this gentleman. 

The entire region of country about the mountains is wild 
and picturesque, and always repays the tourist. Your read- 
ers, however, would not have the patience to follow me, even 
if I had time to talk about the Ogden Canon, the Ogden 
Valley, the Echo Cailon, or the Salt Lake Valley ; of Castle 
or Hanging Rock, Echo City, or the One-thousand-mile Tree 
that tells the traveller that he has passed over one thousand 
miles of railway from Omaha. Dashing along through Weber 
Quarr^^, the mountains seem to have been dove-tailed togeth- 
er ; but skilful engineers, aided largely by New England capi- 
tal and indomitable energ}', have triumphed over all, and a 
connecting line, of railroad is now uniting the broad Atlantic 
with the Pacific coast. But few attempt for the daily press, 
or have time or inclination, to notice the mighty works of 
nature on the line of the Union and Pacific Railroads. The 
massive piles of worn and seamed rocks in their struggle 
against the destroying hand of time are wonderful to behold. 

The excursionists were heartily received at Salt Lake City, 
or " Zion " as the jNIormons term it ; and all the points of 
interest were visited and greatly enjoyed, among them the 
Mormon Church and the Tabernable. Gov. Head had a long 
and interesting interview with Gov. Murray of Utah. 

A zealous attempt is now being made by the Mormons to 
increase their power, by taking large tracts of valuable lands 
surrounding the city, with the view of settling all the foreign 
emigrants that can be prevailed upon to take them ; and it is 
believed by Gov. jNIurray that the aid of the Government will 
sooner or later be required to put a stop to the unlawful 



78 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. PHINNET. 

measures now being taken. Gen. Smith, in command at 
Fort Douglas, issued the following : — 

" Fort Douglas, Utah, April 19, 1880, 

'''' Gomijlimentary to the Hon. Natt Head, Hon. J. E. Sargent, 
Rev. Mr. Herrick, Commodore Perkins, Major S. B. Phinney, 
and party. Programme^ Fourteenth United States Infantry 
Band: Gilmore's 'Columbia,' Operatic Pot-pourri, Bugle 
Call Polka, Our Country and Flag, Galop, Wasatch." 

Over one hundred of the party availed themselves of car- 
riages, and visited the military post, and were heartily re- 
ceived. Its location is beautiful, being situated on the base 
of the mountains, about three miles from the city. It over- 
looks the city and the lake, and affords a fine view of the 
country. The Mormons seemed delighted to meet so large 
a delegation of the Puritanic stock from New England, and 
some of our party were delighted to have at last reached 
"Zion"! 

I telegraphed you of the warm reception we received here 

from the citizens of Utah, during the snow-storm and our 

embargo. More anon, and excuse the hasty letter of an 

excursionist from the 

OLD COLONY. 

San Francisco, April 28, 1880. 

My last letter to " The Journal " was written at Reno, 
Nev., while blockaded with snow. It was the purpose of 
the excursionists to remain at Reno a few hours upon our 
arrival at that place, so as to " double Cape Horn " by day ; 
but providentially the unprecedented snow blockade detained 
the party three days, thereby affording those who chose to 
visit Carson and Virginia City an opportunity to do so. 
About one-half of the party availed themselves of the oppor- 
tunity to join in a thoroughly enjoyable day in beholding 
the wondrous works of God and man, as exhibited in moun- 
tains and in machinery, much of the way between Carson 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. PHINNEY. 79 

and Virginia. " Tlie bills, rock-ribbed and ancient as the 
sun," were at our left, piled mountain high ; while at our 
right the bed of the cauon, five hundred feet below us, or 
the gently sloping mountain, gave us a panorama of wild and 
enchanting grandeur. This rugged scenery not only gave us 
great delight, but it gave us also a peep into the hearts of 
the pioneers in this new country. Tired of the drowsy 
humdrum of Eastern life, they came hither to grow up with 
the countr3% and for the " almighty dollar," and either or 
both inducements have offered and still offer golden oppor- 
tunities. 

Virginia is a city built upon a hill, or rather upon the 
south-eastern side of Mount Davidson, and has a popula- 
tion of about seventeen thousand. The wealth of the 
country hereabouts is hidden beneath the surface, and in 
depths varying from a few feet to twenty-five h-undred feet. 
At this depth the rich mines of gold and silver have paid, 
and will probably continue to pay, large dividends on the 
enormous costs of machinery for hoisting the precious 
metals, for the more ponderous engines for keeping the 
mines at these low levels free from hinderances by water, 
and for converting the valuable rocks into bars of gold and 
silver. 

Virginia shows well in the number of her national banks, 
and her " faro banks ; " her public-school buildings, and her 
dens of iniquity ; her fine churches, and hei* glittering gam- 
bling-hells. And althouo^h she has an altitude of sixtv-two 
hundred feet, and is less than a quarter of a century old, her 
everlasting hills are in archrean time, and her rocks are of 
the oldest sedimentary formations. 

Through the thirty miles of continuous snowsheds, through 
whi-ch we passed after leaving Reno for the Pacific coast 
(save where loop-holes had been made by the crushing 
weight of twent}^ or more feet of snow), we could see in the 
construction of these sheds, and the interspersed tunnels 
through the solid rock, where much of the vast sums of 
money appropriated by Congress for the building of this 
trans-continental road must have been used. 



80 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. PHINNET. 

Soon after having passed the "summit," and almost before 
we could reach it, we were whirled over the steel rails, 
" narrow as the path to glory," bj the attraction of gravita- 
tion, although the brakes were set, and steam was shut off. 
From suowsheds and tunnels to green grass and smiling 
verdure we were transported, as it were, at a single bound. 

The excursionists reached the Palace Hotel in this city, on 
Thursday morning last, at two o'clock. San Francisco has a 
population of over three hundred thousand, and is the most 
important city on the Pacific coast of the American conti- 
nent. The fortunate discovery of gold at Coloma, in 1848, 
opened a new era for San Francisco, and from that event we 
may date its rise to greatness. In public and private build- 
ings, theatres, schools and churches, street-railroads, water 
and gas works, wealth of individuals, and refinement, it ranks 
with the first in the Union. Here the party will remain for 
several days ; then a journey will be made to the interior by 
taking the Southern Pacific Railroad to Santa Clara Valley, 
San Jose, and other places along the line of the Southern 
Pacific, where can be seen the princely residences of San 
Francisco's prosperous merchants ; the United States Mint, 
the largest in the country ; seal rocks from the cliffs on the 
Pacific coast, barren of every thing except seals, sea-lions, 
etc., some of the seals weighing over two thousand pounds. 
Here the highest peak is surmounted with a light-house, 
three hundred feet above the water. Oakland and China- 
town are among the attractions, and have been visited by 
most of the visitors. 

Ex-Mayor Bryant gave a reception in the parlors of the 
Palace Hotel on Sunday evening to Gov. Head of New 
Hampshire, Judge Sargent, N. "White, Major S. B. Phinney, 
Dr. Ordway (who is the lion and the guide of the party), T. 
L. Smith of Cambridge, and others of Massachusetts. Col. 
Bryant has been gentlemanly and attentive to all the Puritan 
New England visitors. 

A committee of arrangements was chosen at a preliminary 
meeting of the excursionists, consisting of Judge Sargent, 



BIOGRAPniCAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHIXNEY. 81 

S. B. Phinney, T. L. Smith, W. P. Frost, E. H. Bugbee, 
B. Lombard, and E. B. Knapp, to make arrangements for a 
grand re-union of the party at the Palace Hotel to-morrow 
evening. Speeches are expected from several gentlemen of 
the party, resolutions adopted, and the ladies are looking 
forward to the occasion with great interest. Gov. Head will 
preside. After the re-union and general hand-shaking, dan- 
cing, etc., there will be a separation of many of the party, 
some of whom propose making excursions to other portions 
of the State. This hotel has been crowded most of the week 
by strangers from all portions of California, who have met 
here to welcome their New-England friends. The weather 
is delightful, and the party are pleased with the scenery 
which gladdens the eye in every direction. 

OLD COLONY. 

Log Angeles, Cal., May 10, 1880. 

The New-England excursionists are now, for the most 
part, in a region of the country where the corn, wine, and 
oil of the commerce of old abound, and where the pome- 
granate, fig, orange, lemon, and other semi-tropical fruits 
abound, and can be seen to perfection. It may not be unin- 
teresting to the readers of the " Patriot," to have a letter 
from one who has not forgotten his deep interest in all that 
pertained to its welfare in days gone by. 

The excursion has been full of interest, notwithstanding 
the weather has been unusually severe. The rains have 
continued much later than usual. The air has been chilly, 
and thus far May has been decidedly Eastern in its charac- 
ter ; but New Englauders are used to it. For the credit of 
our " glorious climate," I wish it had put on a better face 
before our arrival. Many of the party are known personally 
to your readers, and I will attempt a brief sketch from this 
beautiful country. 

Cape Cod, the old Bay State, is largely represented by 
representative men who are closely identified with all its 
interests, and who understand its wants and claims, and 



82 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVASUS B. PHISSET. 

have not failed, when called upon both publicly and pri- 
vately, to maintain its honor. Gov. Head represents Xew 
Hampshire as its chief executive officer, and shows us that 
the Granite State still continues to call its best men to its 
highest offices. Ex-Mayor Bryant of San Francisco, whose 
" limbs were made in Xew Hampshire," and whose wife was 
born on Cape Cod, represents both sections. He has just 
left the mayor's office, which he has occupied for two terms 
with great ability and popularity, a second term being an 
honor enjoyed by only one man before him, and that was 
way back in prehistoric times. Being well acquainted with 
Gov. Head and your correspondent, ]^Iayor Bryant called 
upon them the day of their arrival, and drove them to points 
of interest in the city, to the magnificent residence of Charles 
Crocker, Esq., who is as well known in the East as here for 
his large wealth, his prominence in business, and in the man- 
agement of the Pacific Railroads. Here the party were 
cordially and handsomely entertained, and afterwards re- 
ceived the same treatment at the spacious residence of 
Mayor Bryant. Later in the week he entertained Gov. 
Head and family, Mr. and Mrs. S. B. Phinney, and other 
friends, to a dinner at his residence, which was full of enjoy- 
ment. With the delicate food, pleasant wines, and lively 
conversation, it was nearly twelve o'clock before the com- 
pany rose. Mayor Bryant has displayed marked attention 
to the Xew-England delegation, and they express their satis- 
faction and delight with such a reception. 

On the 3d inst., the party left San Francisco, and spent 
about ten days in visiting the southern part of the State, 
Los Angeles, the Yosemite Valle}', the Geysers, and other 
places of interest. The Yosemite is the ivonder of the worlds 
and you may judge of its interest when I tell you that 
hundreds are now visiting it, having to occupy six days of 
hard stage travel from Merced in going and coming. It 
presents one of the most charmingly picturesque scenes to 
be found in this or the Old Country ; and not a day passes 
that English gentlemen are not visiting this romantic valley. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. FEIN KEY. 83 

Close to the south-east stands the majestic " South Dome," 
45,000 feet in altitude above the lake. On the north and 
west lie immense rocks that have been detached from the 
tops of the mountains 3,000 feet above, and among these 
grow a large variety of trees ; the circumference of several 
I measured, and found them varying from 35 to 41 feet. 
•This valley was discovered by white men in 1851, first by 
Major Savage. The most notable falls are the Ribbon, over 
3,000 feet; the Upper Yoseraite, over 2,600 feet; the Bridal 
Veil, 950 ; the Nevada, 700 ; and others equally magnificent. 
The " Cap of Liberty," 4,000 feet ; El Capitan, 3,000 ; Sen- 
tinel Rock, 3,000, and others equally wonderful ; but these 
must be seen to be appreciated. 

The " Old Colony " delegation have met with a large 
number of residents in California who came from Cape Cod, 
and are displaying in business the intelligence and skill 
which lead to fortune, and which distinguish the natives of 
the Cape. We have met with several gentlemen who were 
educated at Paul Wing's School in Sandwich, an institution 
which, it may be said, has for generations been distinguished 
by the eminence which its numerous graduates have attained. 
Among the most eminent let me name Mr. William Bradford, 
who has distinguished himself as one of the best artists in 
this country. At his studio we witnessed some of the very 
best paintings that have ever been taken of Yosemite Valley. 

On the whole, the excursionists from the East have enjoyed 
themselves highly ; have not been disappointed, and come to 
the conclusion that California is as good as represented. 

One of the palace cars, containing a portion of the visitors, 
will leave San Francisco the 18th inst. for Boston. After 
reaching Cheyenne, they will visit the city of Denver, Pueblo, 
taking the Sante Fe Railroad through Colorado and Kansas 
to Kansas City, and thence to Council Bluffs and Chicago, 
with the expectation of reaching home some time during the 
first week in June. 

Several of the party will stop over a day at Laramie City. 
At this point a large number from New England are wend- 



84 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. PHINNEY. 

ing their waj^ to the " Bhack Hills," where valuable gold and 
silver mines are said to have recently been discovered. At 
Laramie many of the most industrious and intelligent of the 
young men of Massachusetts have located during the past 
few 3'ears, some engaged in mining, others largely engaged 
in supplying cattle for the Chicago market. Mr. Bacon, a 
descendant of Cape Cod, and a graduate of old Harvard, is 
among the most successful, and is recognized as " cattle 
king " of this section. He has made a pretty little fortune 
the past two years. He was at his ranch, several miles from 
Laramie, upon the arrival of the party, but will meet them 
while homeward bound. 

At Los Angeles the " Herald " designated the ladies of 
the New-England party " as characterized by an air at once 
intellectual and ethereal ; " and the gentlemen have found 
no fault that they have carried the palm. But everywhere, 
let me conclude by saying, the press has universally spoken 
compliraentarily of the representatives of the " sturdy stock 
of New England." This was (as might be expected) grati- 
fying to those at least of your friends from tlie 

OLD COLONY. 

A PLEASANT VISIT. 

The Los Angeles " Journal " said : " We enjoj^ed a very 
pleasant visit yesterday evening from Gov. Head of New 
Hampshire, Messrs. S. B. Phinney of Massachusetts, and 
E. B. Knapp of Skaneateles, N.Y. These gentlemen form a 
part of the Eastern excursion j)arty. Mr. Phinney was 
a newspaper man in Massachusetts forty years ago, when 
newspapering was in its infancy. Mr. Knapp is correspond- 
ent of the Syracuse ' Journal.' It is a pleasure to meet with 
such gentlemen, representatives of the sturdy stock of New 
England." 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 85 



AGRICULTURAL. 

At the annual cattle-sliow and fair of tlie Barnstable 
County Agricultural Society in 1878, President Perkins read 
the following letter from Major Phinney, whose term, as 
member of the State Board, expired Dec. 31, 1879 : — 

Barnstable, Sept. 12, 1878. 
Col. a. T. Perkins. 

Dear Sir, — At the close of my present term of office, I 
shall have served this Society, as a member of the State Board 
of Agriculture, twelve years, — nearly one-half the time the 
Board has had existence. Thanking the Society, through 
you as its President, for this mark of its confidence, I have 
to ask that my name shall not be used for re-election at the 
next annual meeting. 

I liad the pleasure of attending the first meeting of the 
Society, thirty-five years ago ; and how sad the reflection, 
that, of the sixty-three persons who then signed the consti- 
tution, seventeen only of that number are now living ! 

The Barnstable County Society, as is everywhere admitted, 
has been invaluable in advancing the cause of agriculture in 
this section of the State. But few societies, enjoying the 
bounty of the State, stand higher in the estimation of prac- 
tical farmers, and there is none furnishing a better record. 
It was organized in a community where its citizens were 
largely occupied in commercial pursuits, and it required long 
years of labor to establish for it the high position it now 
holds. The result has been that sailors and shipmasters 
have learned both to plough the ocean and the land. This 
they have done successfully. It has now enrolled more than 



86 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET. 

four hundred members; and while Thanksgiving has been 
handed down to us by the fathers, as the cherished and ever- 
to-be-cherished " family festival," the Barnstable Agricultu- 
ral Society is the great County Festival, in which all may 
join, forgetting all party names and distinctions. 

The delegate of the State Board who visited this Society 
nearly twenty-five years ago was surprised to find so little 
fruit on exhibition, and that our citizens took so little inter- 
est in the welfare of the Society ; but he had discovered that 
no portion of the world had succeeded in producing so large 
a number of energetic men as the sandy Cape, and that our 
strength did not lie so much in the depth and fertility of the 
soil, as in the moral, intellectual, and physical superiority of 
her citizens. Thanks to the energies of our people, but few 
societies in this Commonwealth now exhibit at their annual 
fairs better fruits and vegetables, and our cattle-pens have 
shown equally valuable stock. One of the marked features 
of improvement and usefulness is the interest which men 
of leisure — retired shipmasters and others — have manifested 
in agriculture and liorticulture in this section of the Old 
Colony. Some of their homesteads have been made model 
farms, and become perfect gardens, containing, as they do, 
some of the choicest fruits in Massachusetts. 

To a large extent, the successful culture of the cranberry 
had its origin from the liberal bounties offered by this Soci- 
ety. The culture of this fruit has so largely added to the 
wealth of the county, that it is now said to exceed in value 
the amount of fresh fish annually marketed from its entire 
coast. The clearing of swamp and peat lands, and salt- 
marshes, also had its origin by the bounty of this Society. 
These were numerous and unproductive, and thousands of 
acres have been made to " blossom like the rose." Hundreds 
of acres now under cultivation are estimated at more than 
five hundred dollars per acre. There were marketed from 
the several towns in this county, last year, 34,743 barrels of 
cranberries, which were considered equal if not superior to 
any grown in this country. At the low price of seven dol- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET. 87 

lars per barrel they yielded to the cultivators the sum of 
$243,201. 

The Barnstable County Society was also the pioneer in the 
planting of the forest-tree. Thirty 3'ears ago it awarded the 
late Amos Otis and m^-self a liberal premium for the success- 
ful cultivation of the pitch-pine. This was from the planting 
of the seed ; and while so many at that time thought that only 
our "cliildren's children" would live to realize any benefit 
from this experiment, thousands of acres of this planting may 
DOW be seen with trees which girth more than a man's body. 
The planting was, for the most part, on common, Avorn-out 
lands, experience liaving shown that the light, sand}^ lands of 
Cape Cod could be made profitable by the propagation of the 
pitch-pine. The increased value of the lands thus planted 
in this county is estimated at more than two millions of 
dollars ! 

Let farmers — the tillers of the soil, — even upon the bar- 
ren shores of Cape Cod, take courage. Our children must 
be taught that there is nothing menial in labor. It has been 
well said that ours is a glorious government, but let us not 
trifle with it: there is really no nobleman but the laborer, 
and the time is already upon us that he who does nothing 
will be nothing. 

Barnstable County abounds in large fresh-water ponds, 
which is another of its characteristic features. This Society, 
to its credit be it said, took early measures to encourage the 
propagation of fish. In some of its waters there has been 
planted the black bass, and this has so far proved a success, 
that they are now taken from our ponds weighing over three 
pounds. The propagation of this and other species of fish 
afterwards engaged the attention of our State authorities, 
and it has already proved a source of great revenue. This, 
in brief, is something of what has been done by this Society, 
in consideration of the bounty it has received from the State. 
It cannot be denied that the money has been well expended; 
and let us hope that it will not be withdrawn as has been 
so often advocated by those who take but little interest in 



88 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. PHINNEY. 

agriculture, or see but little of the advantages growing out of 
our county fairs. 

In conclusion let me say one word about the financial con- 
dition of this Society. The Treasurer's report in 1859-60 
shows that it was then free from debt. It will be remem- 
bered that some of its contributors, who aided to build its 
spacious hall, and purchased its grounds, were assured that it 
should be kept free from debt. The report of its treasurer in 
1877 shows at that time a debt of '11,500. To aid in freeing 
the Society of this incumbrance, several plans have been pro- 
posed. I was joined to a committee of three some two 
years ago, with yourself, Mr. President, to see if funds could 
not be raised by subscription, or otherwise, for its paj'ment. 
I regret to say that thus far we have not been able to 
accomplish the object. I do not despair, however, that with 
renewed effort upon the part of the committee it may yet be 
done. But to do this, the Society must be united at each 
returning season, and not divided into petty factions and 
local jealousies. 

Again thanking the Society for the assurance of its long- 
continued confidence, let me say that I shall be found prompt 
to respond to such call of the Society as may be required to 
aid in continuing its usefulness as one of the best agricultural 
institutions in the State. 

Very respectfully yours, etc., 

S. B. PHINNEY. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. PHINNEY. 89 



UNITARIAN CONFERENCE. 

At the celebration of the two hundred and fiftieth anni- 
versary of the First Parish Church in Sandwich, on the 28th 
of September, 1888, the President, Major S. B. Phinney of 
Barnstable, in calling the Conference to order, said, — 

Delegates and Friends^ — The First Parish Church in this 
town has reached its two hundred and fiftieth birthday.. 
We congratulate all who are assembled here to celebrate 
the grand anniversary. The old meeting-house, rudely con- 
structed, with shutters for windows, and its thatched roof, 
offers a striking contrast to the present beautiful edifice- 
erected on the site of the old building. The importance of 
the work of your Parish Clerk and Committee, Messrs. 
Charles Dillingham, Samuel Fesseuden, B. G. Bartley, and' 
W. A. Nye, cannot be over-estimated ; and the able address 
of your pastor, the Rev. O. B. Beals, will be handed down 
with an unusual degree of interest to future generations. In- 
giving a brief historical sketch of this old parish, as the 
records now preserved are quite limited, we will simply state 
that only eleven persons formed its nucleus. Like many 
other of our parishes whose origin dates to so great antiquity, 
the struggle for existence even was fearfully hard. The 
expenses of the same, repairs and the like, were paid at one 
time in merchantable Indian corn. The minister's salary 
was by no means a c^mosure, as in these days. The minister 
who received twenty-five dollars a year, and half the fish he 
caujjht in the river which ran throuirh the town in still later 
times, was a prince in comparison. Your records tell of one 
of your pastors who received for his salary a deed of land 



90 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 

simply, and the drift-whales which were washed up on the 
shore ; still another, the benefit of pasturing his horse in 
the old burying-ground. As far back as 1722, times were a 
little better, and the minister had ninet}^ pounds and the 
use of the parsonage lands and meadows. Then we have 
the account of reverses again, religious differences, and law- 
suits, for a period of twenty or more years. In 1747 the 
church and parish had another lease of prosperity. Four 
hundred pounds per year was paid a graduate of Harvard 
College, Rev. Abraham Williams, who proved efficient in 
restoring peace and reconciling discordant factions. 

In 1787 another graduate of Harvard College, Rev. 
Jonathan Burr, furthered the good cause, and established the 
academy in this town, which holds so high a position to the 
present day. In 1808, in connection with other discords, 
the religious strife for the separation of parish and church 
increased, as a crisis of events. The Methodist Society was 
incorporated in 1811; the Calvinistic Society, in 1813. By 
legal technicalities the majority of the church retained the 
church temporalities and records. The majority claimed to 
be the ancient church, holding "that a church is a distinct 
body from the parish, independent of it for its existence and 
exercise of its rights." The claim was sustained by the 
church councils, but was overruled by the court. 

At the famous trial on the general issue subsequently 
before the Supreme Court at Barnstable, by Chief-Justice 
Parsons, the matter was settled according to the decision of 
the court. 

Members and friends of the Conference assembled to-day, 
we congratulate you on the successful work thus far per- 
formed under our Christian organization. Gov. Winslow 
wisely sanctioned and instituted the grand movement in 
Sandwich, two centuries ago, which we have but furthered as 
loyal descendants of Puritan ancestry. To the ladies of this 
Conference, in particular, we owe more than words can express. 
Their zeal and example have made certain our success. In 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET. 91 

fact, we could never have reached any thing like the present 
result of things without their sympathy, their deeper social 
and religious contributions, their culture and refined sen- 
sibilities. There is, we believe, no better educator in the 
Church, no greater reformer in the land, than woman. 

As regards Unitarian principles, "those who deny to this 
sect the name of Christian show only their want of acquaint- 
ance with its writing and its preaching. It is very easy to 
make the charge of infidelity against a religious body, but to 
intelligent minds those who make this charge only exhibit 
their own want of charity or knowledge. Men do not build 
churches, hold public worship, support ministers, and spend 
money in works which look exactly like Christian works, 
and are just what other churches do which call themselves 
Christians, while all the time they are infidels or atheists. 
There are some absurdities so patent that they refute them- 
selves, and bring confusion upon their prophets ; and to say 
that Unitarians, who have churches in America and England 
and France and Holland and Switzerland and Germany and 
Austria, and have had them for hundreds of years, who pray 
in Christ's name and sing hymns in his honor, and commend 
his example, and repeat his characteristic works, — to say 
that a sect of this kind is not ' Christian,' is one of the 
absurdities that would be incredible if men were not foolish 
enough to utter it. A similar utterance was that of those 
Pharisees who ventured to say that Jesus could not be a 
prophet of God, because he did not keep the sabbath day in 
their fashion. More sensible men at once answered them 
that the acts of the healer and the words of the teacher 
proved sufficiently that he was a prophet from God. There 
were ' blind leaders of the blind ' in Judoea eighteen hundred 
years ago, and there are blind leaders of the blind in our 
time. And there are no persons whom these words of Jesus 
more accurately describe than those who deny the Christian 
name to a religious body of whose ideas and principles they 
are ignorant, which they take no pains to know, and wlio 



92 BIOGRAPBICAL SKETCH OF STLVANUS B. PHINNET. 

only care to foster tlie illusion of those who know as little 
of it as themselves. 

"Now, no church has principles more distinctly defined, 
more universally admitted, than the Unitarian Church. The 
Episcopalian or Presbyterian or Baptist or Methodist bodies 
cannot be surer of their ideas than the Unitarian. Tliere 
are certain principles on which all our churches, all our 
ministers, all our men and women, are agreed, which all and 
our body recognize and magnify. The first of these prin- 
ciples is the grand Protestant principle of the right of 
private judgment. A second principle is, that no one can be 
required or expected to believe contrary to reason. A third 
is, that no man is infallible. A fourth is, that no creed can 
contain the whole of our religion. A fifth principle of the 
Unitarian Church is, that sincere faith is the only true faith. 
A sixth and last principle is, that character is better than 
profession of any kind, and that profession without character 
is good for nothing. The character of a man tells what he 
really believes, better than his words can tell this. 

" The acts of a man, his general tone of thought and habits 
of life, are the expression of his real creed. We look for his 
belief at what he is, and not what he says he is. We 
ask for better proof than any declarations specially made. 
The creed is written in the life, and the world reads it from 
the man's life." 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF STLVANUS B. PIIINNET. 93 



VALEDICTORY. 

TO THE PATRONS OF THE BARNSTABLE "PATRIOT.'' 

The connection of the subscriber with this journal — a 
connection dating from its origin — closes with this present 
number [Jan. 26, 1869]. 

It is with no ordinary emotion that we say thus much. 
Fort}^ years ago, save one, we were led to believe that the 
time had come for establishing here an Independent Jotje- 
NAL ; one devoted to the interests of this peculiar locality, 
Cape Cod, — her mercantile, fishing, and the less paramount, 
though still of important consideration, agricultural and man- 
ufacturing interests ; and above all, at that time, the free dis- 
cussion, by her sects and parties, of religion and politics. 
Against this last, the only channel of public communication 
within her limits was then closed. Though discouraged in 
the attempt by our best friends, — who with us felt tlie need, 
but had little faith in our ability, and feared for our failure, — 
we launched our bark with determination and trust, and flung 
out our flag of " Free Trade and Sailor's Rights," " Free Dis- 
cussion " to all parties and every interest and sect, and invited 
all hands to come on board. 

Though obliged to contend against weighty and angry 
odds, we made steady headway from the first ; and increas- 
ing confidence in ourself was warranted by the public good- 
will which gathered to our aid, and cheered us on to what, 
years ago, we counted as absolute success. But the vicissi- 
tudes of such a career! how great and how varied! How 
gratifying and joyous, how sad, — oh, sometimes liow sad ! — 
even amidst success, is the forty years' life of an editor 



94 BIOGRAPniCAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 

and publisher in its current passing ! how indescribable the 
retrospect from its close ! But the friendships we have made 
and enjoyed through our regular calling, they have been and 
remain a host, thank God ! The opponents political, with 
whom we have exchanged the common, and sometimes un- 
common, severities of our profession, we believe, with very 
few, and those very insignificant, exceptions, have left nothing 
rankling to disturb their good-will towards us ; and as for 
the little enmities that may be still cherished by any, they 
shall not disturb us. We grant a " general amnesty " to all. 

What shall we say for those who, fi'om the first, have so 
nobly stood by us, in all parts of the county, helping us con- 
tinually with their patronage and their generous favors, as 
if they would every day say to us, " Go on, God prosper 
you "? They are many, and they have our hearty thanks. 

Those who have still more nearly and more constantly — 
some of them in our earlier, and some in years later — stood 
by and been as our right hand to us in our arduous duties, 
— of these, one, the nearest and dearest, to whom we could 
always turn, and on whom we could ever rely for editorial 
aid and personal counsel, has fallen from our side by the wa}^, 
leaving us the loveliest example of a good life and an ever- 
pleasant memory. Others still remain, and long may they, 
with life's best blessings around them, to receive our con- 
stant, heartfelt gratitude. 

We can but glance at the changes made by the lapse of the 
period we speak of, in the affairs of the community around 
us and in the large public circle. The second-hand press and 
old font of type with which we published the first " Patriot," 
loaned us by our old master, the Hon. Nathan Hale of blessed 
memory, were brought to us by packet from Boston ; and 
our paper to print upon, the first winter, was transported 
therefrom upon stage-coach top. The railroad, years ago, 
supplanted both packet and stage-coach. In our first num- 
ber the necessity for a marine railway across Cape Cod at 
Hyannis, or a canal at Buzzard's Bay, was seriously discussed. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 95 

Now the daily steam freight and packet coasters around the 
Cape have put to rest all projects for crossing lots. The 
increase in navigation and in thrift of our towns and vil- 
lages; the improvement in agriculture; tlie great change in 
the system of education, and the earnest public interest 
awakened to it, — these all have had our constant advocacy. 
And may we not claim tliat in the enlightenment of the pub- 
lic sentiment, the diffusion of liberal ideas, the softening of 
religious asperities, and the inculcation of Democratic prin- 
ciples in the county, the "Patriot" has been pre-eminently 
a pioneer and co-worker? 

In the cause of our country, in contest with her foreign 
foe, or, later, in that for her own unity and integrity, the 
" Patriot " was ever true to its name and its professions. 
And to the Democratic principles of government it has 
given constant support with all the efficiency it could com- 
mand. 

With the editorial fraternity, far and wide, we have, with 
scarcely an exception, ever been on the pleasantest terms, 
and secured their constant courtesy and gratifying encour- 
agement. To them we would extend our parting thankful- 
ness in sincerity. And, patrons of the " Patriot," ever so 
ready with your support, your good wishes, and your sympa- 
thies, we cannot adequately express to you the mingled emo- 
tions of gratitude and regret with which we take our leave 
of these columns, the common ground on which we have 
weekly met for so long a portion of our lifetime. God grant 
that our recollections of the past may be mutually agreeable, 
altogether, during the remainder of our lives ! 

Our successors are not strangers to the county nor to their 
business, and we are gratified in the belief tliat they have 
ability and determination to continue the "Patriot" — what 
we have ever endeavored to make it — a valuable commercial 
and family newspaper, still the advocate of good morals, 
always open to religious toleration. That the new editors 
and proprietors will have the best interests of the community 



96 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF STLVANUS B. PHINNET. 

at heart, and that, in their hands, the righteous cause of 
Democratic conservatism will never suffer; thus believing, 
we hopefully invite your continual patronage to the " Patriot," 
trusting in the future you will find it even more accex3table 
and useful than hitherto. 

S. B. PHINNEY. 



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